Methods for assessing SPARC Resistance, Disease Progression, and Treatment Efficacy in Ovarian Cancer

ABSTRACT

The invention provides methods for predicting whether an ovarian cancer patient&#39;s tumor will be resistant to chemotherapy. The invention also provides methods for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, particularly a chemotherapeutic treatment, in a patient treated for ovarian cancer. The invention further provides methods for treating ovarian cancer, by reducing chemotherapeutic drug resistance in said cells. In addition, the invention provides methods of screening compounds to identify tumor cell growth inhibitors in tumor cells resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment regimes.

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No., 11/026,734, filed Dec. 30, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/533,505 filed Dec. 31, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to methods for predicting whether an ovarian cancer patient will be resistant to chemotherapy and methods for determining whether an individual patient has colon cancer. The invention also relates to methods for monitoring the effectiveness of therapy in a patient treated for ovarian cancer. The invention further relates to methods for treating ovarian cancer and colon cancer. In addition, the invention relates to methods of screening for compounds that can inhibit growth of tumor cells, particularly ovarian cancer cells or colon cancer cells. The invention also relates to methods for reducing or inhibiting resistance to chemotherapeutic drug treatment or therapy, particularly in ovarian cancer cells that are resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment regimes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of gynecological malignancies with a mortality rate of 60%. The five-year survival rates for the various clinical stages of the disease are as follows: Stage I>90%, Stage II=80%, Stage III=20% and Stage IV=10%; there is a significant drop in the survival rates at later stages of the disease. Standard-of-care treatment for advanced stages of the disease includes cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy.

For most patients there is a low probability of surviving, since approximately 75% of all patients are diagnosed at stages III and IV of the disease, and poor prognosis is associated with late diagnosis of the disease at its advanced stages. Resistance to currently-available chemotherapeutic agents is another major problem. Although complete clinical response is achieved in 75% of patients after initial treatment, most will develop recurrent disease and require re-treatment. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority will eventually develop chemoresistance and succumb to the disease.

Chemoresistance is a complex phenomenon that involves a change in the expression and biological activity of several genes and gene products. The genes or gene families that are expressed differently in responsive and non-responsive individuals can be used as molecular markers for predicting which patients might be resistant to a particular chemotherapeutic agent or combination thereof, as is typically used clinically. In addition, genes that are overexpressed in chemoresistant individuals can be targets for inhibition, which may decrease resistance of a cancer cell to a chemotherapeutic agent or agents.

As with ovarian cancer, the survival of patients with colorectal cancer is best when the disease is diagnosed early. If the cancer is detected early, the 5-year survival rate for colon cancer patients is approximately 90%; unfortunately, despite increased surveillance and preventative measures, only 37% of cancers are found at this early stage. When the cancer has spread regionally to involve other organs the survival rate drops to around 64% and it is drastically lowered (8%) after the cancer has metastasized (Cancer Facts and Figures 2002; American Cancer Society publication).

Thus, there is a need for identifying colon and ovarian cancers early in the course of the disease process, and a particular need for identifying cancers that are chemoresistant. More specifically, since it is understood in the art that the behavior of cancer cells, both regarding their tumorigenicity and their resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is mediated by the expression of a not completely defined set of particular genes, there is a need in the art to identify genes and collections or sets of genes that serve as effective molecular markers for chemoresistance in ovarian cancer, as well as such genes or gene sets that provide clinically effective therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer and colon cancer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides methods and reagents for identifying genes involved in, or whose expression is modulated by, or wherein said modulated expression is associated with or responsible for resistance to chemotherapeutic drug treatment. In particular, the invention provides genes involved with, or whose expression is so modulated, or wherein said modulated expression is associated with or responsible for resistance to chemotherapeutic drug treatment, as well as patterns of modulated gene expression of a plurality of genes wherein said patterns are characteristic of chemotherapeutic drug resistant cells, particularly drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells. The invention further provides methods for identifying compounds that interact with or affect expression or activity of one or a plurality of said genes. Also provided are said compounds that are useful as alternatives to or in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents for treating ovarian cancer, particularly such cancers that are or have become resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment. The invention further provides methods and reagents for monitoring chemotherapeutic treatment to identify patients whose tumors are or have become resistant to chemotherapeutic agents.

The invention provides methods for identifying compounds that decrease chemotherapeutic drug resistance and inhibit, retard or prevent growth of tumor cells, most preferably ovarian cancer cells, that are resistant to a chemotherapeutic agent, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting with a test compound a chemotherapeutic drug resistant cell growing in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug for a time or at a concentration wherein the cell is resistant to the drug and wherein the cell expresses at least one gene that is overexpressed in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells, wherein the overexpressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1 or KIAA0082 (as identified by the GenBank accession numbers set forth in Table 1); (b) assaying said cells for expression or activity of one or a plurality of said genes or gene products in the presence and absence of the test compound; and/or (c) comparing cell growth and/or expression or activity of at least one of the genes or gene products in the presence and absence of the test compound, wherein a compound is identified as a compound that inhibits chemoresistant tumor cell growth if expression or activity of the gene or gene product in the presence of the test compound is reduced relative to expression of the gene in the absence of the test compound, or if cell growth is inhibited in the presence of the compound, or both. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

Further, the invention provides methods for identifying compounds that decrease drug resistance and inhibit, retard or prevent growth of tumor cells, most preferably ovarian cancer cells, that are resistant to a chemotherapeutic agent, the method comprising the steps of: a) contacting with a test compound a cell growing in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug for a time or at a concentration wherein the cell is resistant to the drug and wherein the cell expresses a gene that is expressed at a lower level in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells compared with a chemo-sensitive cell, wherein the gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10 (as identified by the GenBank accession numbers set forth in Table 1); b) assaying said cells for cell growth and/or gene expression or gene product activity in the presence and absence of the test compound; and c) comparing expression of the gene or activity of the gene product in the presence and absence of the test compound, wherein a compound is identified as a compound that inhibits chemoresistant tumor cell growth if (i) expression of the gene or activity of the gene product in the presence of the test compound is increased relative to expression of the gene or activity of the gene product in the absence of the test compound, and/or (ii) if cell growth is inhibited in the presence of the compound, and/or (iii) if cell growth is inhibited while expression and/or activity of the gene are increased. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

The invention provides methods for decreasing drug resistance, or inhibiting, retarding or preventing growth of a tumor cell, or both, comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with at least one inhibitor of a cellular gene, wherein the cellular gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin (3, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1 or KIAA0082 in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug for a time or at a concentration wherein the cell is resistant to the drug in the absence of the cellular gene inhibitor. In preferred embodiments, the tumor cell is a human tumor cell, and more preferably an ovarian cancer cell. In particular aspects, one or a plurality of the genes identified according to the invention are inhibited with antisense RNA or siRNA molecules specifically designed to target one or a plurality of said genes. In alternative aspects, the gene products of said genes are inhibited using inhibitors of these proteins.

The invention provides methods for decreasing drug resistance of a tumor cell, comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with at least one compound that increases expression or activity of a cellular gene, wherein the cellular gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1, or MPP10, in the presence or absence of a chemotherapeutic drug for a time or at a concentration wherein the cell is resistant to the drug in the absence of the compound that increases expression or activity of a HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1, or MPP10. In preferred embodiments, the tumor cell is a human tumor cell, and more preferably an ovarian cancer cell.

The invention also provides methods for inhibiting, retarding or preventing growth of a tumor cell, comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with at least one compound that increases expression or activity of a cellular gene, wherein the cellular gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1, or MPP10, in the presence or absence of a chemotherapeutic drug for a time or at a concentration wherein cell proliferation is slowed or inhibited in the presence of the compound that increases expression or activity of a HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1, or MPP10 compared with cell proliferation in the absence said compound. In preferred embodiments, the tumor cell is a human tumor cell, and more preferably an ovarian cancer cell.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods for inhibiting, retarding or preventing growth of a tumor cell, most preferably an ovarian cancer cell, the method comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with a combination of a chemotherapeutic agent or agents and at least one inhibitor of a cellular gene, wherein the cellular gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, Grancalcin, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, Vinexin (3, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, or KIAA0082. In a particular aspect, the cellular gene is MetAP2, the chemotherapeutic agent is platinum-based, and the at least one inhibitor is fumagillin or a derivative of fumagillin. In another particular aspect, the cellular gene is Calpain 2, the chemotherapeutic agent is platinum-based, and the at least one inhibitor is N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (ALLN) or a derivative thereof. An inhibitor of a cellular gene shown in Table 1 can be, for example, a siRNA molecule or an shRNA molecule that is specifically designed to target a gene shown in Table 1, or a small molecule inhibitor.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods for inhibiting, retarding or preventing growth of a tumor cell, most preferably an ovarian cancer cell, the method comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with a combination of a chemotherapeutic agent or agents and at least one compound that increases expression or activity of a cellular gene, wherein the cellular gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1, or MPP10. In preferred embodiments, the tumor cell is a human tumor cell, and more preferably an ovarian cancer cell.

The invention also provides methods of predicting whether an ovarian cancer patient's tumor will be resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the patient, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; (b) detecting an amount of the one or the plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a control sample comprising a nontumor tissue sample, most preferably from the tissue of origin of the tumor, or a tissue sample from a patient that responded well to chemotherapy, corresponding to the one or plurality of expressed genes or gene products detected in subpart (a), wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; and (c) comparing the amount of the expressed gene or gene product measured in step (a) with the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein the patient is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapy if the amount detected in step (a) is greater than the amount detected in step (b) by a factor of at least 20%. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In a particular aspect, the control sample is a biological sample obtained from a cancer patient who is responsive to chemotherapy. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

In a particular aspect, the method predicts that a patient will be resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy when the measured amount of MetAP2 expressed in the biological sample from the cancer patient is greater than the amount detected in a chemotherapeutic drug responsive individual or in ovarian tissue from an individual without ovarian cancer.

The invention also provides methods of predicting whether an ovarian cancer patient's tumor will be resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the patient, wherein the expressed gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1β, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1, or MPP10; (b) detecting an amount of the one or the plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a control sample corresponding to the one or plurality of expressed genes or gene products detected in subpart (a), wherein the expressed gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10; and (c) comparing the amount of the expressed gene or gene product measured in step (a) with the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein the patient is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapy if the amount detected in step (a) is less than the amount detected in step (b) by a factor of at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%. In a particular aspect, the control sample is a biological sample obtained from a cancer patient who is responsive to chemotherapy. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

The invention further provides methods for monitoring disease progression in an ovarian cancer patient, particularly an ovarian cancer patient being treated with a chemotherapeutic treatment, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the patient, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; (b) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (c) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein disease progression is monitored by detecting changes in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the subsequently-collected biological sample compared with the biological sample taken in step (a), and whereby disease progression is detected when the amount of the expressed gene or expressed gene product detected in step (b) is greater than the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a). In certain embodiments, the patient undergoes chemotherapeutic or other treatment during the period between detecting the amount of gene expression in step (a) and the amount detected in step (b). In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In preferred embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

The invention further provides methods for monitoring disease progression in an ovarian cancer patient, particularly an ovarian cancer patient being treated with a chemotherapeutic treatment, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the patient, wherein the expressed gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10; (b) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (c) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein disease progression is monitored by detecting changes in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the subsequently-collected biological sample compared with the biological sample taken in step (a), and whereby disease progression is detected when the amount of the expressed gene or expressed gene product detected in step (b) is less than or equal to the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a). In certain embodiments, the patient undergoes chemotherapeutic or other treatment during the period between detecting the amount of gene expression in step (a) and the amount detected in step (b). In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

In addition, the invention provides methods for monitoring the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical composition as an agent for treating cancer, particularly ovarian or colon cancer in a patient comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from a patient, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; (b) administering an amount a pharmaceutical composition to the patient; (c) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (d) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (c), wherein the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical composition is monitored by detecting changes in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the subsequently-collected biological sample compared with the biological sample taken in step (a), and whereby the pharmaceutical composition is effective when the amount of the expressed gene or expressed gene product detected in step (c) is less than the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) and where growth of the tumor is decreased (i.e., slowed, retarded or inhibited) in the presence of the pharmaceutical composition. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

The invention also provides methods for monitoring the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical composition as an agent for treating cancer, particularly ovarian cancer in a patient comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from a patient, wherein the expressed gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10; (b) administering an amount a pharmaceutical composition to the patient; (c) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (d) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (c), wherein the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical composition is monitored by detecting changes in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the subsequently-collected biological sample compared with the biological sample taken in step (a), and whereby the pharmaceutical composition is effective when the amount of the expressed gene or expressed gene product detected in step (c) is greater than the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) and whereby growth of the tumor is decreased (i.e., slowed, retarded or inhibited) in the presence of the pharmaceutical composition. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

The invention also provides a method of detecting colon cancer comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a biological sample from an animal, preferably a human; (b) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in the biological sample, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, or MetAP2; (c) detecting an amount of the one or plurality of expressed genes or gene products detected in a control sample comprising a nontumor colon tissue sample; (d) comparing the amount the one or plurality of expressed genes or gene products from step (b) with the amount in step (c), wherein colon cancer is detected if there is a difference in the amount in step (b) compared with the amount in step (c). The difference detected can be overexpression of the one or plurality of said genes, or can be lack of or underexpression of the one or plurality of said genes, in the biological sample taken in step (a) compared with the biological sample taken in step (c). For example, colon cancer is detected if the amount of S100A10, S100A11, SPARC, and/or MetAP2 is greater in step (b) compared with the amount in step (c), and/or if the amount of Calpain 2 is less in step (b) than the amount in step (c). In certain embodiments, the animal is a human, preferably a human having colon cancer. Preferably, the biological sample is a colon tissue sample, more preferably a polyp and yet more preferably an adematous polyp, which are commonly used in the art as tissue samples for colon screening activities. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides methods for diagnosing cancer and/or chemotherapeutic drug resistance in an animal, preferably a human, comprising the step of detecting a pattern of changes in amount of two or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby. In a particular embodiment, the expressed genes are genes shown in Table 1. Generally, these methods of the invention comprise the steps of: (a) obtaining a biological sample from an animal, preferably a human; (b) detecting an amount of two or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in the biological sample, wherein the expressed gene is shown in Table 1; (c) detecting an amount of the two or plurality of expressed genes or gene products detected in a control sample; (d) determining a pattern of changes in the amount of the two or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby by comparing the amount the two or plurality of expressed genes or gene products from step (b) with the amount in step (c), wherein the pattern is associated with a cancer, for example colon or ovarian cancer, or drug resistance, for example resistance to cis-platin. In certain embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

The invention also provides methods for detecting chemotherapeutic drug resistance in an animal with ovarian cancer, the method comprising the steps of (a) detecting an amount of a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the animal, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; (b) detecting an amount of the said plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a control sample comprising nontumor ovarian tissue or tumor tissue from a patient responsive to chemotherapy, corresponding to the plurality of expressed genes or gene products detected in subpart (a), wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; and (c) comparing the amount of the expressed gene or gene product measured in step (a) with the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein the patient is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapy if the amount detected in step (a) is greater than the amount detected in step (b) by a factor of at least 20%. As provided herein, the plurality of said genes wherein the amount detected in step (a) is greater than the amount detected in step (b) by a factor of at least 20% defines a gene expression pattern specific for tumor samples that are resistant to a chemotherapeutic drug. In a particular aspect, the control sample is a biological sample obtained from a cancer patient who is responsive to chemotherapy. Preferably, expression of one or a plurality of said genes is greater in the tumor sample detected in step (a) than in the control sample detected in step (b). In preferred embodiments, the animal is a human, most preferably a human cancer patient. As disclosed herein, the invention further provides a gene expression pattern that predicts resistance to said chemotherapeutic drug when said gene expression pattern is detected. In preferred embodiments, gene expression is detected by assaying a biological sample using an array of, inter alia, nucleic acid (gene) probes or antibodies specific for a plurality of gene products identified herein.

Advantageously, some genes identified herein have never been recognized as associated with either ovarian or colon cancer and may prove to be novel targets for intervention with these diseases.

Specific preferred embodiments of the invention will become evident from the following more detailed description of certain preferred embodiments and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis, and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that S100A10 is expressed at increased levels in ovarian cancer cell lines that have increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drug(s).

FIG. 2 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that S100A11 is expressed at increased levels in ovarian cancer cell lines that have increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drug(s).

FIG. 3 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that the mRNA levels for S100A10 and S100A11 are elevated in a patient tumor sample that is more resistant to chemotherapy compared to a sample from a more responsive patient.

FIG. 4 is a graph representing the results of quantitative real-time PCR demonstrating that SPARC was expressed at increased levels in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis demonstrating that SPARC mRNA was elevated in samples taken from a patient whose cancer had recurred.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that the levels of Calpain 2 mRNA were increased in the chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell lines.

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that Grancalcin mRNA levels were elevated in chemoresistant cell lines compared to cell lines sensitive to treatment with cis-platin.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Western blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Western blot results demonstrating that expression of MetAP2 protein was elevated in the highly chemoresistant cell line OVCA 429 and down-regulated in the Hey cell line, which is sensitive to cis-platin treatment.

FIG. 9 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating expression of MetAP2 mRNA in tissue samples obtained from three patients with different levels of resistance to cis-platin-based chemotherapy. MetAP2 is most elevated in the sample from the patient having the most resistant tumor (CAP3) compared to patients with intermediate (CAP2) and low (CAP1) levels of resistance to chemotherapy.

FIG. 10 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that two transcripts of eIF5 were detected and that expression levels of both were elevated in ovarian cancer cell lines with the highest level of resistance to cis-platin.

FIG. 11 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating expression of eIF5 in a chemoresistant patient tumor sample before (CAP2) and after the recurrence of the tumor (CAP2+).

FIG. 12 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that mRNA for eIF2Bε was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 13 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that eEF1ε mRNA was down-regulated in ovarian cancer cell lines that were the most resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 14 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating SAPK/Erk1 mRNA levels were elevated in cis-platin resistant cell lines compared to sensitive cell lines.

FIG. 15 shows a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that TESK2 mRNA was elevated in cis-platin resistant cell lines.

FIG. 16 shows a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that FAST kinase mRNA was elevated in cis-platin resistant cell lines.

FIG. 17 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that levels of expression of KLK6 were elevated in tested cis-platin resistant cell lines.

FIG. 18 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that the expression of HMT1 was down-regulated in cells that are resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 19 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that mRNA from ARA9 was elevated in cell lines resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 20 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that expression of Calponin 2 was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines compared to chemosensitive ovarian cancer cell lines.

FIG. 21 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein gene expression was decreased in cell lines most resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 22 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that RNPS1 levels were elevated in cell lines resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 23 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that mRNA levels for HSF2 were elevated in the chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 24 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that mRNA for WDR1 was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines compared to chemosensitive cell lines.

FIG. 25 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that levels of Ft1 mRNA was elevated in cell lines that are resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 26 is a photograph of an autoradiogram showing the results of Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of the Northern blot results demonstrating that NME4 mRNA was elevated in the chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 27 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that ADAR1 mRNA was elevated in cell lines that are resistant to cis-platin.

FIG. 28 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that NBR1 mRNA was elevated in OVCA 429, the most chemoresistant cell line compared to the other cell lines tested.

FIG. 29 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that mRNA for zinc finger protein 262 was elevated in the most cis-platin resistant cell line compared to the other cell lines tested.

FIG. 30 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that MRPL4 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 31 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that HYA22 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines compared to chemosensitive ones.

FIG. 32 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that the mRNA for vinexin β was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 33 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that the mRNA for G-CSFR was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 34 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that SRB1 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 35 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that IGFBP-7 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 36 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that RAB22A mRNA was decreased in chemoresistant cell lines and is elevated in the more responsive cell lines.

FIG. 37 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that expression of KIAA0082 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines.

FIG. 38 shows a Northern blot analysis and a graphical representation of results demonstrating that the mRNA for NCOR2 was reduced in cis-platin resistant cell lines compared to sensitive ones.

FIG. 39 shows the rankings of five ovarian cancer cell lines according to their level of sensitivity to cis-platin based on the results of MTT assays.

FIG. 40 (upper panel) depicts a graph showing the effects of increasing concentration of fumagillin on OVCA 429 cell survival after 4 hours of exposure to the drug. The bottom panel depicts a graph showing that there was an enhancement of the effect of cis-platin in the presence of 0.1 μg/ml fumagillin but not when the cells were treated with cis-platin in the presence of 10 μg/ml fumagillin for 4 hours.

FIG. 41 (upper panel) depicts a graph showing the effects of increasing concentration of fumagillin on OVCA 429 cell survival after 8 hours of exposure to the drug.

FIG. 41 (lower panel) depicts a graph showing that there was an enhancement of the effect of cis-platin in the presence of 0.1 μg/ml fumagillin but not when the cells were treated with cis-platin in the presence of 10 μg/ml fumagillin for 8 hours.

FIG. 42 (upper panel) depicts a graph showing the effects of increasing concentration of fumagillin on OVCA 429 cell survival after 24 hours of exposure to the drug.

FIG. 42 (lower panel) depicts a graph showing that there was an enhancement of the cytotoxic effect of cis-platin in the presence of 0.1 μg/ml fumagillin but not when the cells were treated with cis-platin in the presence of 10 μg/ml fumagillin for 24 hours.

FIG. 43 is a schematic representation of three siRNAs (#1, SEQ ID NO: 4; #2, SEQ ID NO: 5; and #3, SEQ ID NO: 6) designed to target different regions of the MetAP-2 messenger RNA.

FIG. 44 shows the effect of siRNA #1 on the levels of MetAP-2 expression in OVCA 429 as determined by quantitative real-time PCR.

FIG. 45 is a graph representing the quantitation of cell survival as determined by MTT assays after exposing OVCA 429 to cis-platin in the presence of siRNA #1.

FIG. 46 is a photograph of 96-well plates containing OVCA 429 cells after performing the MTT assay (the quantitation is shown in FIG. 45) that shows the effects of cis-platin on these cells transfected with MetAP-2 siRNA #1.

FIG. 47 is a schematic representation of three siRNAs (#1, SEQ ID NO: 1; #2, SEQ ID NO: 2; and #3, SEQ ID NO: 3) that were designed to target different regions of the SPARC message.

FIG. 48 is a graph representing the results of quantitative real-time PCR analysis of SPARC expression in OVCA 429 cells transfected with the siRNAs shown in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a photograph of 96-well plates containing OVCA 429 cells after performing the MTT assay to determine the effects of cis-platin on OVCA 429 cells in the presence of SPARC siRNA #2.

FIG. 50 is a graph representing the effects of siRNA-mediated reduction of SPARC gene expression on cis-platin sensitivity in OVCA 429 cells.

FIG. 51 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that MT1 mRNA was highly elevated in the cell line most sensitive to cis-platin (Hey).

FIG. 52 shows a graphical representation of Northern blot results demonstrating that MPP10 mRNA was increased with increased sensitivity to cis-platin.

FIG. 53 is a graph representing the effects of siRNA-mediated reduction of Calpain 2 gene expression in OVCA 429 cells.

FIG. 54 is a graph representing the effects of Calpain 2 siRNA #3 on cis-platin sensitivity in OVCA 429 cells.

FIG. 55 is a graph representing the effects of the Calpain 2 inhibitor ALLN on cis-platin sensitivity in OVCA 429 cells.

FIG. 56 is a graph representing the effects of siRNA-mediated reduction of SA100A10 gene expression on cis-platin sensitivity in OVCA 429 cells.

FIG. 57 is a graph representing the effects of siRNAs on S100A11 gene mRNA expression levels in OVCA 429 cells.

FIG. 58 is a graph representing the expression levels of MetAp-2 mRNA in normal and colon cancer cell cDNA.

FIG. 59 is a graph representing the expression levels of SPARC mRNA in normal and colon cancer cell cDNA.

FIG. 60 is a graph representing the expression levels of S100A11 mRNA in normal and colon cancer cell cDNA.

FIG. 61 is a graph representing the expression levels of S100A10 mRNA in normal and colon cancer cell cDNA.

FIG. 62 is a graph representing the expression levels of Calpain-2 mRNA in normal and colon cancer cell cDNA.

FIG. 63 shows the volume of the tumor as a function of body weight of two nude mice injected with OVCAR-3 cells (15 million/injection, obtained from the AMERICAN TYPE CULTURE COLLECTION, Manassas, Va., Accession No. HTB-161) and treated after 35 days with cis-platin at 4 μg/kg body weight administered by IP injection 3 times a week for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week with no treatment or treated with saline solution alone as control.

FIG. 64 is a graph that shows stable expression of siRNAs against either Calpain 2 or S100A11 in OVCAR-3 cells. In the control lanes, the expression of both mRNAs was measured in cells without treatment or the irrelevant GFP siRNA. mRNA expression of Calpain 2 and S100A11 was greatly reduced in the relevant siRNA lanes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention provide methods for inhibiting, retarding or preventing growth of a tumor cell, comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug at a concentration to which the cell is resistant with at least one modulator of expression or activity of one or a plurality of cellular genes, wherein the cellular gene is a gene shown in Table 1, and wherein contacting the tumor cell with said gene expression modulator reduces, inhibits, retards or prevents drug resistance in the tumor cell. The tumor cell can be for example, an ovarian cancer. In one embodiment, the tumor cell can be contacted in vivo (e.g. a cell that has not been removed from a patient).

The term “biological sample” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, a tissue or bodily fluid obtained from an animal, preferably a mammal and most preferably a human. For example, a biological sample can be biopsy material, bone marrow samples, blood, blood plasma, serum or cellular fraction thereof, urine, saliva, tears, or cells derived from a biological source. In one embodiment, the mammal is a human suspected of having or previously diagnosed as having or in need of screening for a cancer, in particular ovarian or colon cancer. In certain embodiments, a biological sample is a tumor sample.

As used herein, the term “ovarian cancer” will be understood to refer generally to epithelial ovarian cancer, which comprises some 80% of all diagnosed human cancer from ovarian tissues. The remainder, comprising germline-derived ovarian cancer and clear cell ovarian cancer, are rare, and frequently misdiagnosed. Insofar as the changes in gene expression disclosed herein are also found in these minor tumor types, the methods and compositions of the inventions apply thereto.

As used herein, a “modulator” of gene expression or gene product activity can be any chemical compound, nucleic acid molecule, peptide or polypeptide that can cause an increase or decrease in expression of a gene or activity of a gene product. In certain embodiments, a modulator of the invention is a compound that causes an increase in the expression or activity of one or a plurality of cellular genes whose expression or activity is decreased in tumor cells that are resistant to chemotherapeutic agents; such modulators are termed “activators” herein. In other embodiments, a modulator is an inhibitor of expression or activity of one or a plurality of cellular genes, particularly a gene whose expression is increased in tumor cells that are resistant to chemotherapeutic agents; such modulators are termed “inhibitors” herein.

As used herein, an “inhibitor” can be any chemical compound, nucleic acid molecule, peptide or polypeptide such as an antibody against a gene product that can reduce activity of a gene product or directly interfere with expression of a gene. An inhibitor of the invention, for example, can inhibit the activity of a protein that is encoded by a gene either directly or indirectly. Direct inhibition can be accomplished, for example, by binding to a protein and thereby preventing the protein from binding an intended target, such as a receptor. Indirect inhibition can be accomplished, for example, by binding to a protein's intended target, such as a receptor or binding partner, thereby blocking or reducing activity of the protein. Furthermore, an inhibitor of the invention can inhibit a gene by reducing or inhibiting expression of the gene, inter alia by interfering with gene expression (transcription, processing, translation, post-translational modification), for example, by interfering with the gene's mRNA and blocking translation of the gene product or by post-translational modification of a gene product, or by causing changes in intracellular localization.

As used herein, an “activator” can be any chemical compound, nucleic acid molecule, peptide or polypeptide can enhance activity of a gene product (e.g., by stabilizing the gene product, preventing its proteolytic degradation or increasing its enzymatic or binding activity or directly activating expression of a gene). An activator of the invention can increase the activity of a protein that is encoded by a gene either directly or indirectly. Direct activation can be accomplished, for example, by binding to a protein and thereby enhancing binding of the protein to an intended target, such as a receptor. Indirect activation can be accomplished, for example, by binding to a protein's intended target, such as a receptor or binding partner, and enhancing activity, e.g. by increasing the effective concentration of the target. Furthermore, an activator of the invention can activate a gene by increasing expression of the gene, e.g., by increasing gene expression (transcription, processing, translation, post-translational modification), for example, by stabilizing the gene's mRNA or blocking degradation of the mRNA transcript, or by post-translational modification of a gene product, or by causing changes in intracellular localization.

As described herein, the expression of several genes in chemoresistant ovarian tumor cells differs substantially from expression thereof in chemosensitive ovarian tumor cells. Table 1 provides a list of such genes identified using methods described in the Examples below. The Table also summarizes expression patterns of these genes in cells sensitive or resistant to cis-platin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent.

TABLE 1 GenBank Chromosomal Protein Expression pattern as Accession # Names location information validated in cell lines BC015973 S100A10 1q21.3 Extracellular Increased with increased p11 96 amino resistance to cis-platin CLP11 acids Calpactin 1 light chain 42C BC001410 S100A11 1q21.3 Extracellular Increased with increased S100C 105 amino resistance to cis-platin Calgizzarin acids AF261089 Calpain 2 1q41-q42.11 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased CANPL2 and Cell resistance to cis-platin MCANP membrane 700 amino acids BC004974 SPARC 5q31.3-q33.1 Extracellular Increased with increased Osteonectin 303 amino resistance to cis-platin BM-40 acids BC013782 MetAP2 12q22 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased p67eIF2 478 amino resistance to cis-platin MNPEP acids BC015525 KLK6 19q13.33 Extracellular Increases with increased Zyme 244 amino resistance to cis-platin Neurosin acids Protease M AF222689 HMT1 19q13.33 Nuclear Decreased with increased HMT2 361 amino resistance to cis-platin ANM1 acids HCP1 U31913 ARA9 11q13.3 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased XAP2 330 amino resistance to cis-platin acids D83735 Calponin 2 19p13.3 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased 309 amino resistance to cis-platin acids U19251 NAIP 5q13.1-13.2 Cytoplasmic Decreased with increased 1403 amino resistance to cis-platin acids BC005291 eEF1ε 6p24.3-p25.1 Cytoplasmic Decreased with increased p18 174 amino resistance to cis-platin acids AF015608 RNPS1 16p13.3 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased resistance to cis-platin U49436 eIF5 14q32.32 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased eIF5A 431 amino resistance to cis-platin acids BC013590 eIF2Bε 3q27.1 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased 721 amino resistance to cis-platin acids M65217 HSF2 6q22.31 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased HSTF2 and Nuclear resistance to cis-platin 536 amino acids AB010427 WDR1 4p16.1 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased NORI-1 606 amino resistance to cis-platin acids BC001134 Fused toes 16q12.2 Unknown Increased with increased (Ft1) 292 amino resistance to cis-platin acids BC004880 NM23D 16p13.3 Mitochondrial Increased with increased mn23-H4 inter- resistance to cis-platin membrane space 187 amino acids U10439 ADAR1 1q21.1-q21.2 Nuclear Increased with increased 1226 amino resistance to cis-platin acids BC005214 Grancalcin 2q24.2 Cytoplasmic/ Increased with increased Membranes resistance to cis-platin 217 amino acids BC009808 NBR1 17q21.1-q21.31 966 amino Increased with increased acids resistance to cis-platin L36870 SAPK/Erk1 17p11.2-p12 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased JNKK1 399 amino resistance to cis-platin MEK4 acids MKK4 MAPKK4 AB007885 Zinc finger 1p32-p34.3 Unknown Increased with increased protein-262 resistance to cis-platin MYM D88153 HYA22 3p21.3 Unknown Increased with increased resistance to cis-platin AB049635 MRPL4 19p13.2 Mitochondrial Increased with increased CGI-28 resistance to cis-platin AF037261 Vinexin β 8p21.3 Associated Increased with increased with resistance to cis-platin Cytoskeleton M59818 G-CSFR 1p35-34.3 Cell Increased with increased membrane or resistance to cis-platin soluble form 836 amino acids BC015710 RAB22A 20q13.32 Membrane Decreased with increased associated resistance to cis-platin 194 amino acids BC017201 IGFBP-7 4q12 Secreted Increased with increased MAC25 282 amino resistance to cis-platin FSTL2 acids BC011770 FAST kinase 7q36.1 Cytoplasmic Increased with increased 549 amino resistance to cis-platin acids AB057597 TESK2 1p34.1 Nuclear/Associated Increased with increased with resistance to cis-platin Cytoskeleton BC022087 SRB1 12q24.31 Cell Increased with increased CLA1 membrane resistance to cis-platin CD36L1 BC031890 KIAA0082 6p21.1 Unknown Increased with increased 836 amino resistance to cis-platin acids NM_006312 NCOR2 12q24 Nuclear Decreased with increased 2517 amino resistance to cis-platin acids BC032338 MT1 16q13 Mostly Decreased with increased nuclear, can resistance to cis-platin be secreted X98494 MPP10 2p12-2p13.2 Mostly Decreased with increased cytoplasmic, resistance to cis-platin can be secreted

The chromosomal locations that appear in bold type in Table 1 have been reported to be associated with ovarian cancer (Pejoic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78).

In one embodiment, an inhibitor of a cellular gene shown in Table 1 can be, for example, a small molecule inhibitor, an antibody, a nucleic acid such as an antisense nucleic acid, a short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule, or a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecule. In addition, such inhibitors can be specifically designed using the methods described herein or using methods known in the art. For example, antibodies, particularly neutralizing antibodies and preferably monoclonal antibodies, to proteins encoded by a gene shown in Table 1 can be generated by conventional means as described, for example, in “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual” by Harlow and Lane (Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1988), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In a particular embodiment, an inhibitor of the invention is a siRNA that binds to mRNA encoding a target gene, wherein the target gene is a gene shown in Table 1.

In a preferred embodiment, certain inhibitors provided by the invention are species of short interfering RNA (siRNA). The term “short interfering RNA” or “siRNA” as used herein refers to a double stranded nucleic acid molecule capable of RNA interference or “RNAi”, as disclosed, for example, in Bass, 2001, Nature 411: 428-429; Elbashir et al., 2001, Nature 411: 494-498; and Kreutzer et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/44895; Zernicka-Goetz et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 01/36646; Fire, International PCT Publication No. WO 99/32619; Plaetinck et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/01846; Mello and Fire, International PCT Publication No. WO 01/29058; Deschamps-Depaillette, International PCT Publication No. WO 99/07409; and Li et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 00/44914. As used herein, siRNA molecules need not be limited to those molecules containing only RNA, but further encompasses chemically modified nucleotides and non-nucleotides having RNAi capacity or activity.

Short interfering RNA mediated RNAi has been studied in a variety of systems. Fire et al. were the first to observe RNAi in C. elegans (1998, Nature 391:806). Wianny and Goetz described RNAi mediated by dsRNA in mouse embryos (1999, Nature Cell Biol. 2:70). Hammond et al. described RNAi in Drosophila cells transfected with dsRNA (2000, Nature 404:293). Elbashir et al. described RNAi induced by introduction of duplexes of synthetic 21-nucleotide RNAs in cultured mammalian cells including human embryonic kidney and HeLa cells (2001, Nature 411:494). These studies have shown that siRNA duplexes comprising 21 nucleotides are most active when containing two nucleotide 3′-overhangs. Furthermore, substitution of one or both siRNA strands with 2′-deoxy or 2′-O-methyl nucleotides abolishes RNAi activity, whereas substitution of 3′-terminal siRNA nucleotides with deoxynucleotides was shown to be tolerated. Mismatch sequences in the center of the siRNA duplex were also shown to abolish RNAi activity. In addition, these studies also indicate that the position of the cleavage site in the target RNA is defined by the 5′-end of the siRNA guide sequence rather than the 3′-end (Elbashir et al., 2001, EMBO J. 20:6877). Other studies have indicated that a 5′-phosphate on the target-complementary strand of a siRNA duplex is required for siRNA activity and that ATP is utilized in cells to maintain the 5′-phosphate moiety on the siRNA (Nykanen et al., 2001, Cell 107:309). However siRNA molecules lacking a 5′-phosphate are active when introduced exogenously, suggesting that 5′-phosphorylation of siRNA constructs may occur in vivo. Chemically-modified siRNA can be directly injected into the blood stream for certain applications.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides expression vectors comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one siRNA molecule of the invention, in a manner that allows expression of the siRNA molecule. For example, the vector can contain sequence(s) encoding both strands of a siRNA molecule comprising a duplex. The vector can also contain sequence(s) encoding a single nucleic acid molecule that is self-complementary and thus forms a siRNA molecule. Non-limiting examples of such expression vectors are described in Paul et al., 2002, Nature Biotechnology 19:505; Miyagishi and Taira, 2002, Nature Biotechnology 19:497; Lee et al., 2002, Nature Biotechnology 19:500; and Novina et al., 2002, Nature Medicine, online publication Jun. 3, 2003.

In certain embodiments, siRNA molecules according to the invention can comprise a delivery vehicle, including inter alia liposomes, for administration to a subject, carriers and diluents and their salts, and can be present in pharmaceutical compositions. Methods for the delivery of nucleic acid molecules are described, for example, in Akhtar et al., 1992, Trends Cell Bio. 2:139; Delivery Strategies for Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutics, ed. Akhtar, 1995, Maurer et al., 1999, Mol. Membr. Biol. 16:129-140; Hofland and Huang, 1999, Handb. Exp. Pharmacol., 137:165-192; and Lee et al., 2000, ACS Symp. Ser. 752:184-192, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Beigelman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,713 and Sullivan et al., PCT WO 94/02595, further describe general methods for delivery of nucleic acid molecules. These protocols can be utilized for the delivery of virtually any nucleic acid molecule. Nucleic acid molecules can be administered to cells by a variety of methods known to those of skill in the art, including, but not restricted to, encapsulation in liposomes, by iontophoresis, or by incorporation into other delivery vehicles, such as hydrogels, cyclodextrins, biodegradable nanocapsules, and bioadhesive microspheres, or by proteinaceous vectors (see, for example, O'Hare and Normand, International PCT Publication No. WO 00/53722).

Alternatively, the nucleic acid/vehicle combination can be locally delivered by direct injection or by use of an infusion pump. Direct injection of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, whether subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intradermal, can take place using standard needle and syringe methodologies, or by needle-free technologies such as those described in Conry et al., 1999, Clin. Cancer Res. 5:2330-2337 and Barry et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 99/31262. Many examples in the art describe delivery methods of oligonucleotides by osmotic pump (see Chun et al., 1998, Neuroscience Letters 257:135-138, D'Aldin et al., 1998, Mol. Brain Research 55:151-164, Dryden et al., 1998, J. Endocrinol. 157:169-175, Ghirnikar et al., 1998, Neuroscience Letters 247:21-24) or direct infusion (Broaddus et al., 1997, Neurosurg. Focus 3, article 4). Other delivery routes include, but are not limited to oral delivery (such as in tablet or pill form) and/or intrathecal delivery (Gold, 1997, Neuroscience 76:1153-1158). More detailed descriptions of nucleic acid delivery and administration are provided in Sullivan et al., PCT WO 94/02595, Draper et al., PCT WO93/23569, Beigelman et al., PCT WO99/05094, and Klimuk et al., PCT WO99/04819, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Alternatively, certain siRNA molecules of the invention can be expressed within cells from eukaryotic promoters (see for example, Izant and Weintraub, 1985, Science 229:345; McGarry and Lindquist, 1986, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 83:399; Scanlon et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10591-5; Kashani-Sabet et al., 1992, Antisense Res. Dev. 2:3-15; Dropulic et al., 1992, J. Virol. 66:1432-41; Weerasinghe et al., 1991, J. Virol. 65:5531-4; Ojwang et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10802-6; Chen et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Res. 20:4581-9; Sarver et al., 1990, Science 247:1222-1225; Thompson et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res. 23:2259; Good et al., 1997, Gene Therapy 4: 45; Miyagishi et al., 2001, Nucleic Acids Research 29:2502; and Kunkel and Pederson, 1989 Nucleic Acids Research 17:7371). Those skilled in the art will recognize that any nucleic acid can be expressed in eukaryotic cells using the appropriate DNA/RNA vector. The activity of such nucleic acids can be augmented by their release from the primary transcript by an enzymatic nucleic acid (Draper et al., PCT WO 93/23569, and Sullivan et al., PCT WO 94/02595; Ohkawa et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser. 27:15-6; Taira et al., 1991, Nucleic Acids Res. 19:5125-30; Ventura et al., 1993, Nucleic Acids Res. 21:3249-55; Chowrira et al., 1994, J. Biol. Chem. 269:25856).

In another aspect of the invention, RNA molecules of the present invention can be expressed from transcription units (see for example, Couture et al., 1996, TIG 12:510) inserted into DNA or RNA vectors. The recombinant vectors can be DNA plasmids or viral vectors. siRNA expressing viral vectors can be constructed based on, for example but not limited to, adeno-associated virus, retrovirus, adenovirus, lentivirus or alphavirus. In another embodiment, pol III based constructs are used to express nucleic acid molecules of the invention (see for example, Thompson, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,880 and 6,146,886). The recombinant vectors capable of expressing the siRNA molecules can be delivered as described above, and persist in target cells. Alternatively, viral vectors can be used that provide for transient expression of nucleic acid molecules. Such vectors can be repeatedly administered as necessary. Once expressed, the siRNA molecule interacts with the target mRNA and generates an RNAi response. Delivery of siRNA molecule expressing vectors can be systemic, such as by intravenous or intramuscular administration, by administration to target cells ex-planted from a subject followed by reintroduction into the subject, or by any other means that would allow for introduction into the desired target cell (for a review, see Couture et al., 1996, TIG. 12:510).

In one embodiment, the invention provides an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one siRNA molecule of the invention. The expression vector can encode one or both strands of a siRNA duplex, or a single self-complementary strand that self hybridizes into a siRNA duplex. The nucleic acid sequences encoding the siRNA molecules can be operably linked in a manner that allows expression of the siRNA molecule (see for example, Paul et al., 2002, Nature Biotechnology 19:505; Miyagishi and Taira, 2002, Nature Biotechnology 19:497; Lee et al., 2002, Nature Biotechnology 19:500; and Novina et al., 2002, Nature Medicine, online publication June 3). The term “operably linked” is used herein to refer to an arrangement of flanking sequences wherein the flanking sequences so described are configured or assembled so as to perform their usual function. Thus, a flanking sequence operably linked to a coding sequence may be capable of effecting the replication, transcription and/or translation of the coding sequence. For example, a coding sequence is operably linked to a promoter when the promoter is capable of directing transcription of that coding sequence. A flanking sequence need not be contiguous with the coding sequence, so long as it functions correctly. Thus, for example, intervening untranslated yet transcribed sequences can be present between a promoter sequence and the coding sequence and the promoter sequence can still be considered “operably linked” to the coding sequence.

In another aspect, the invention provides an expression vector comprising: a) a transcription initiation region (e.g., eukaryotic pol I, II or III initiation region); b) a transcription termination region (e.g., eukaryotic pol I, II or III termination region); and c) a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one of the siRNA molecules of the invention; wherein said sequence is operably linked to said initiation region and said termination region, in a manner that allows expression and/or delivery of the siRNA molecule. The vector can optionally include an open reading frame (ORF) for a protein operably linked on the 5′ side or the 3′-side of the sequence encoding the siRNA of the invention; and/or an intron (intervening sequences).

Transcription of the siRNA molecule sequences can be driven from a promoter for eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (pol I), RNA polymerase II (pol II), or RNA polymerase III (pol III). Transcripts from pol II or pol III promoters are expressed at high levels in all cells; the levels of a given pol II promoter in a given cell type depends on the nature of the gene regulatory sequences (enhancers, silencers, etc.) present nearby. Prokaryotic RNA polymerase promoters are also used, providing that the prokaryotic RNA polymerase enzyme is expressed in the appropriate cells (Elroy-Stein and Moss, 1990, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:6743-7; Gao and Huang 1993, Nucleic Acids Res. 21:2867-72; Lieber et al., 1993, Methods Enzymol. 217:47-66; Zhou et al., 1990, Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:4529-37). Several investigators have demonstrated that nucleic acid molecules expressed from such promoters can function in mammalian cells (e.g. Kashani-Sabet et al., 1992, Antisense Res. Dev. 2:3-15; Ojwang et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10802-6; Chen et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Res. 20:4581-9; Yu et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:6340-4; L'Huillier et al., 1992, EMBO J. 11:4411-8; Lisziewicz et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 90:8000-4; Thompson et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res. 23:2259; Sullenger and Cech, 1993, Science 262:1566). More specifically, transcription units such as the ones derived from genes encoding U6 small nuclear (snRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) and adenovirus VA RNA are useful in generating high concentrations of desired RNA molecules such as siRNA in cells (Thompson et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res. 23:2259; Couture et al., 1996, TIG 12:510; Noonberg et al., 1994, Nucleic Acid Res. 22:2830; Noonberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,803; Good et al., 1997, Gene Ther. 4:45; Beigelman et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 96/18736. The above siRNA transcription units can be incorporated into a variety of vectors for introduction into mammalian cells, including but not restricted to, plasmid DNA vectors, viral DNA vectors (such as adenovirus or adeno-associated virus vectors), or viral RNA vectors (such as retroviral or alphavirus vectors; for a review see Couture et al., 1996, TIG 12:510).

In another embodiment, the invention provides an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one of the siRNA molecules of the invention, in a manner that allows expression of that siRNA molecule. In a particular embodiment, the expression vector comprises: a) a transcription initiation region; b) a transcription termination region; and c) a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one strand of the siRNA molecule; wherein the sequence is operably linked to the initiation region and the termination region, in a manner that allows expression and/or delivery of the siRNA molecule.

In another embodiment the expression vector comprises: a) a transcription initiation region; b) a transcription termination region; c) an open reading frame; and d) a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one strand of a siRNA molecule, wherein the sequence is operably linked to the 3′-end of the open reading frame; and wherein the sequence is operably linked to the initiation region, the open reading frame and the termination region, in a manner that allows expression and/or delivery of the siRNA molecule.

In yet another embodiment the expression vector comprises: a) a transcription initiation region; b) a transcription termination region; c) an intron; and d) a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one siRNA molecule; wherein the sequence is operably linked to the initiation region, the intron and the termination region, in a manner which allows expression and/or delivery of the nucleic acid molecule.

In another embodiment, the expression vector comprises: a) a transcription initiation region; b) a transcription termination region; c) an intron; d) an open reading frame; and e) a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one strand of a siRNA molecule, wherein the sequence is operably linked to the 3′-end of the open reading frame; and wherein the sequence is operably linked to the initiation region, the intron, the open reading frame and the termination region, in a manner which allows expression and/or delivery of the siRNA molecule.

In one embodiment, growth of a tumor cell is inhibited by contacting the tumor cell with a siRNA that inhibits SPARC. Alternatively, the tumor cell can be contacted with the siRNA in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug at a concentration to which the tumor cell is resistant. Examples of siRNA molecules that are SPARC inhibitors include, for example:

AATCC TGT CCA GGT GGA AGT A; (SEQ ID NO: 1) AAGCT CCA CCT GGA CTA CAT C; (SEQ ID NO: 2) and AATGA CAA GTA CAT CGC CCT G.. (SEQ ID NO: 3)

In another embodiment, growth of a tumor cell is inhibited by contacting the tumor cell with a siRNA that inhibits MetAP2/p67. Alternatively, the tumor cell can be contacted with the siRNA in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug at a concentration to which the tumor cell is resistant. Examples of siRNA molecules that are MetAP2/p67 inhibitors include, for example:

AAAGA TCA GCA TTG GAA GAT A; (SEQ ID NO: 4) AAGCA CAT CGA CAA GTT AGA A; (SEQ ID NO: 5) and AAACA GTG CCG ATT GTG AAA G. (SEQ ID NO: 6)

In another embodiment, growth of a tumor cell is inhibited by contacting the tumor cell with a siRNA that inhibits Calpain 2. Alternatively, the tumor cell can be contacted with the siRNA in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug at a concentration to which the tumor cell is resistant. Examples of siRNA molecules that are Calpain 2 inhibitors include, for example:

AAGGC ATA CGC CAA GAT CAA C; (SEQ ID NO: 7) AAACT TCT TCC TGA CGA ATC G; (SEQ ID NO: 8) and AAACG CTA TTC AAG ATA TTT A. (SEQ ID NO: 9)

In another embodiment, growth of a tumor cell is inhibited by contacting the tumor cell with a siRNA that inhibits S100A10. Alternatively, the tumor cell can be contacted with the siRNA in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug at a concentration to which the tumor cell is resistant. Examples of siRNA molecules that are S100A10 inhibitors include, for example,

AAATG GAA CAC GCC ATG GAA A; (SEQ ID NO: 59) AAATT CGC TGG GGA TAA AGG C; (SEQ ID NO: 60) and AATAA TGA AGG ACC TGG ACC A. (SEQ ID NO: 61)

The invention also provides methods for inhibiting, retarding or preventing growth of a tumor cell comprising the step of contacting the tumor cell with a combination of a chemotherapeutic agent or agents and at least one inhibitor of a cellular gene, wherein the cellular gene is a gene shown in Table 1. Preferably, the tumor cell is an ovarian cancer cell. Chemotherapeutic agents are known in the art, and include, for example, cis-platin, paclitaxel, carboplatin, etoposide, hexamethylamine, melphalan, and anthracyclines.

In one embodiment, the inhibitor of a cellular gene shown in Table 1 can be a small molecule inhibitor. As used herein, the term “small molecule” refers to a molecule that has a molecular weight of less then about 1500 g/Mol. A small molecule can be, for example, small organic molecules, peptides or peptide-like molecules. By way of example, a small molecule inhibitor suitable in methods of the invention can be a calpain inhibitor, such as PD 147631, (25,35)-trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucy-lamido-3-methylbutane ethyl ester (E-64-d), N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (ALLN), N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-Met-al (ALLM or C₁₉H₃₅N₃O₄S), or MDL 18270; or a MetAP-2 inhibitor, such as TNP-470 (also known as AGM 1470 or C₁₉H₂₈ClNO₆), fumagillin (C₂₆H₃₄O₇), cis-fumagillin (see Kwon et al., 2000, J. Antibiot. 53:799-806), fumagalone (see Zhou et al., 2003, J. Med. Chem. 46:3452-3454), or ovalicin (C₁₆H₂₄O₄). See also Han et al., 2000, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chem. Letters 10:39-43.

In one embodiment, the inhibitor of a cellular gene shown in Table 1 can be an inhibitor as defined above. Any combination of inhibitors can be used, for example, multiple inhibitors of a particular gene shown in Table 1, a combination of inhibitors that each inhibit one or a plurality of specific genes, or an inhibitor that inhibits multiple genes shown in Table 1, or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the inventive methods comprise the step of contacting a tumor cell with a combination of an inhibitor of MetAP2 and a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent. A chemotherapeutic agent is “platinum-based” if a major component of the agent is or carboplatin, optionally in combination with taxol or cyclophosphamide. An inhibitor of MetAP2 can be, for example, fumagillin or a derivative of fumagillin, or a MetAP2 siRNA such as without limitation SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, or SEQ ID NO: 6.

The invention also provides methods for predicting whether an ovarian cancer patient's tumor is resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment. In these embodiments, the methods comprise the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the patient, wherein the expressed gene(s) is shown in Table 1; (b) detecting an amount of the one or the plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a control sample, wherein the expressed gene is a gene shown in Table 1; and (c) comparing the amount of the expressed gene or gene product measured in step (a) with the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein the patient is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapy if the amount detected in step (a) differs from the amount detected in step (b) by a factor of at least 20%. In one embodiment, the amount detected can be an amount of mRNA of a gene shown in Table 1 or an amount of protein encoded by a gene shown in Table 1. In another embodiment, the control sample is a biological sample from a responsive or normal subject, i.e. an individual who responds to therapy or one without a cancer, such as ovarian cancer. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample.

In one embodiment, the expressed gene in step (a) and step (b) is one or a plurality of S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082, and a patient's tumor is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment if the amount of the expressed gene in step (a) is at least about 20% higher than the amount of the expressed gene in step (b).

In a particular embodiment, the expressed gene in step (a) and step (b) is one or a plurality of Vinexin β, G-CSFR, KLK6, SPARC, HYA22, Calpain 2, SAPK/Erk1, SRB1, ADAR1, MRPL4, eIF5, eIF2Bε, WDR1, NM23D, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, RNPS1, S100A10, S100A11, or MetAP2, and patient's tumor is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment if the amount of the expressed gene in step (a) is at least about 20% higher than the amount of the expressed gene in step (b).

In another embodiment, the expressed gene in step (a) and step (b) is one or a plurality of HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MPP10, or MT1, and a patient's tumor is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment if the amount of the expressed gene in step (a) is at least about 20%, preferably 50%, lower than the amount of the expressed gene in step (b).

In a particular embodiment, the expressed gene in step (a) and step (b) is one or a plurality of HMT1, eEF1ε, NAIP, RAB22A or MT1, and patient's tumor is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapeutic treatment if the amount of the expressed gene in step (a) is at least about 20%, preferably 50% lower than the amount of the expressed gene in step (b).

Thus as disclosed herein the invention provides one or a plurality of gene expression or gene product activity patterns comprising a plurality of said genes that are differentially (i.e., at greater or lesser amounts) expressed or wherein the protein products encoded by said genes have differential activity in chemotherapeutic drug resistant ovarian tumor cells than in normal (i.e., non-tumor or chemo-sensitive) cells. Said patterns of differential gene expression or protein product activity are used according to the methods of the invention to detect chemotherapeutic drug-resistant cells in a biological, most preferably a tumor, sample, and are thus useful in predicting drug resistance in a tumor from an individual prior to a clinician initiating a fruitless treatment course associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that in the practice of the methods of the invention, patient tumor samples can be evaluated for expression of one or a plurality of the genes identified herein. Each of the plurality of genes identified herein is expected to show the differential gene expression detected using the instantly-disclosed methods in a percentage, most preferably a high percentage, of individual tumors isolated from specific ovarian cancer patients. It is also expected that the confidence in the results obtained using the predictive methods of the invention will increase with increasing numbers of said genes assayed that display the differential gene expression disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the methods of the invention can be used to screen human patients in need of treatment with chemotherapy prior to actually treating said patients with a chemotherapeutic agent. Thus, the inventive methods can be used to screen patients to enable a care provider to determine whether or not treatment of said patient with a particular chemotherapeutic agent will be ineffective. A patient who is predicted to be non-resistant to chemotherapy based on methods of the invention is a candidate for treatment with chemotherapy and/or an inhibitor of a gene that is shown in Table 1. A patient who is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapy based on a method of the invention can be a candidate, inter alia for surgery and/or a chemotherapeutic treatment in conjunction with an inhibitor of a gene that is shown in Table 1, or another treatment method.

In the practice of the methods of the invention, gene expression is detected by detecting the amount of mRNA encoding any of the genes identified herein expressed in a biological sample, for example by hybridization assays such as Northern blots or dot blots, or by amplification methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), more preferably coupled with reverse transcription of the mRNA to cDNA (RT-PCR), and even more preferably using methods known in the art for quantitative real-time RT-PCR, as described in more detail herein. Other approaches include detecting the amount of a protein product of said gene or genes, in non-limiting example by assaying a biological sample using protein-specific antisera, more preferably antibodies and even more preferably monoclonal antibodies specific for any particular gene as identified herein. Protein expression levels can also be determined by assaying a biological sample for an enzymatic or antigenic activity of the protein product. The invention also provides gene or antibody arrays for detecting expression of genes over- or under-expressed in chemotherapeutic drug resistant tumors, particularly ovarian and colon tumors, wherein the arrangement of the nucleic acid probes or antibodies in the array produce a recognizable, preferably machine-readable pattern when a tumor sample is chemotherapeutic drug-resistant, and/or a different, recognizable pattern when the tumor sample is chemotherapeutic drug-sensitive.

For example, according to the methods of the invention an amount of MetAP2 that is expressed in a biological sample from a patient is determined and compared with an amount of MetAP2 expressed in either a person who has ovarian cancer and responded to chemotherapy or a person who has ovarian cancer and did not respond to chemotherapy. As used herein, a person has “responded to” chemotherapy if a chemotherapeutic therapy had the effect of reducing tumor size or stopping tumor growth. Moreover, the term “responsive patient” is intended to mean one who after surgical resection is treated with chemotherapy and remains without clinical signs of disease for at least 6 months. If the amount of MetAP2 in the patient is equal to or less than the amount of MetAP2 expressed in a person who has ovarian cancer and who responded to chemotherapy, the patient is predicted to be responsive to certain chemotherapeutic agents (e.g. platinum-based compounds). If the amount of MetAP2 in the patient is greater than the amount of MetAP2 expressed in a person who has ovarian cancer and who responded to chemotherapy, the patient is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. Likewise, if the amount of MetAP2 in the patient is greater than the amount of MetAP2 expressed in a person who has cancer but did not respond to chemotherapy, the patient is predicted to be resistant to chemotherapeutic agents.

As shown in Table 1 and the Examples below, increased expression of MetAP2 in ovarian cancer is associated with increased resistance to cis-platin, a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent. Consequently, in one embodiment, methods of the invention can predict that a patient's tumor will be resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy when the measured amount of MetAP2 expressed in the biological sample from the cancer patient is greater than the predetermined amount detected in a responsive individual. In another embodiment, methods of the invention can predict that a patient's tumor will be resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy when the measured amount of MetAP2 expressed in the biological sample from the cancer patient is equal to the predetermined amount detected in the responsive individual but where the expression of one or a plurality of genes, where the genes are: S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082, is increased over expression in the responsive patient, and/or expression of one or a plurality of the HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10 genes is decreased in comparison with expression in the responsive patient

The invention further provides methods for monitoring disease progression in an ovarian cancer patient, particularly an ovarian cancer patient being treated with a chemotherapeutic treatment, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from the patient, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, KIAA0082, MPP10, HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2 or MT1; (b) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (c) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b), wherein disease progression is monitored by detecting differences in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the subsequently-collected biological sample compared with the biological sample taken in step (a). In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample.

As set forth herein, disease progression is detected when the expressed gene(s) in steps (a) and (b) is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1 or KIAA0082, and the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b) is greater than the amount of the expressed gene or gene product in step (a). In certain embodiments, the patient undergoes chemotherapeutic or other treatment during the period between detecting the amount of gene expression in step (a) and the amount detected in step (b).

As set forth herein, disease progression is detected when the expressed gene(s) in steps (a) and (b) is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10, and the amount of the expressed gene or gene product detected in step (b) is less than the amount of the expressed gene or gene product in step (a).

In certain embodiments, the patient undergoes chemotherapeutic or other treatment during the period between detecting the amount of gene expression in step (a) and the amount detected in step (b). In certain embodiments, the amount detected can be an amount of mRNA of a gene shown in Table 1 or an amount of protein encoded by a gene shown in Table 1.

Methods according to the invention for monitoring progression of ovarian cancer in a patient can be used, for example, to determine if a patient is responding positively or negatively to a certain treatment regime, such as a chemotherapeutic treatment regime.

For example, a patient is responding negatively where expression of S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082 is the same or greater in a biological sample taken from a patient at a time after the patient started a certain treatment regime compared with the amount of the expressed gene in a biological sample taken before or at the time the treatment regime was started. In another example, a patient is responding negatively where the expression of HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10 is the same or less in a biological sample taken from a patient some time after the patient started a certain treatment regime compared with the amount of the expressed gene in a biological sample taken before or at the time the treatment regime was started. In such cases, a care provider can determine that the treatment regime is not effective.

Alternatively, a patient is responding positively, and no change in treatment is needed, where the expression of S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082, is less in a biological sample taken from a patient some time after the patient started a certain treatment regime compared with the amount of the expressed gene in a biological sample taken before or at the time the treatment regime was started. Furthermore, a patient is responding positively where the expression of HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10 is greater in a biological sample taken from a patient some time after the patient started a certain treatment regime compared with the amount of the expressed gene in a biological sample taken before or at the time the treatment regime was started.

In addition, the invention provides methods for monitoring the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical composition as an agent for treating cancer in a patient comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from a patient, wherein the expressed gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin (3, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; (b) administering an amount of a pharmaceutical composition to the patient; (c) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (d) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (c), wherein the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical composition is monitored by detecting changes in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the subsequently-collected biological sample compared with the biological sample taken in step (a). If gene expression is greater than or equal to the biological sample collected after treatment with the pharmaceutical composition than in the biological sample collected prior to treatment with the pharmaceutical composition and tumor growth has not been slowed, retarded or inhibited during treatment with the pharmaceutical composition, the pharmaceutical composition can be considered ineffective for treating the patient's cancer. For example, if an amount of S100A10 mRNA is higher in samples obtained after a patient has been treated with a pharmaceutical composition, the patient is predicted to be resistant to further treatment with that pharmaceutical composition. Thus, the pharmaceutical composition is considered ineffective against that patient's cancer. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample.

The invention further provides methods for monitoring the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical composition as an agent for treating cancer in a patient comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an amount of one or a plurality of expressed genes or gene products encoded thereby in a biological sample taken from a patient, wherein the expressed gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10; (b) administering an amount of a pharmaceutical composition to the patient; (c) repeating step (a) using a subsequently-collected biological sample obtained from the patient; and (d) comparing the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (a) with the amount of expressed gene or gene product detected in step (c), wherein the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical composition is monitored by detecting changes in the amount of expressed gene or gene products in the biological sample collected after treatment with the pharmaceutical composition compared with the biological sample taken in step (a), i.e. collected prior to treatment with the pharmaceutical composition. If gene expression of one or a plurality of said genes is lower than or equal to in the subsequently-collected biological sample (i.e., collected after treatment with the pharmaceutical composition) than in the previously-collected biological sample (i.e., collected prior to treatment with the pharmaceutical composition), and tumor growth has not been slowed, retarded or inhibited during treatment with the pharmaceutical composition, the pharmaceutical composition can be considered ineffective for treating the patient's cancer, and the patient is predicted to be resistant to further treatments with that pharmaceutical composition. Thus, the pharmaceutical composition is considered ineffective against that patient's cancer. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample.

As used herein, a “pharmaceutical composition” can be any formulation comprising a compound (e.g. a protein, peptide, peptidomimetic, non-peptide organic molecule, an inorganic small molecule, or nucleic acid molecule) that is used to treat or tested for the ability to treat a cancer, such as colon or ovarian cancer.

The invention also provides methods for identifying compounds that inhibit growth of a tumor cell, particularly a chemoresistant tumor cell, and most particularly a chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell. In these embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: (a) contacting a cell that expresses one or a plurality of genes that are overexpressed in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells with a test compound, wherein the gene is S100A10, S100A11, Calpain 2, SPARC, MetAP2, KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, HSF2, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, ADAR1, Grancalcin, NBR1, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, MRPL4, Vinexin (3, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, FAST kinase, TESK2, SRB1, or KIAA0082; (b) detecting expression of the gene in the presence and absence of the test compound; and (c) comparing expression of the gene in the presence of the compound with expression of the gene in the absence of the test compound, wherein a compound is identified as a compound that inhibits chemoresistant tumor cell growth if expression of the gene in the presence of the test compound is reduced relative to expression of the gene in the absence of the test compound. In a particular aspect, the biological sample is a tumor sample. In certain embodiments, the compound can inhibit growth of the tumor cell in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug.

In addition, the invention provides methods of identifying a compound that inhibits growth of a tumor cell, particularly a chemoresistant tumor cell, and most particularly a chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell comprising the steps of: (a) contacting with a test compound a cell that expresses one or a plurality of genes that are expressed at a lower than normal level in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells, wherein the gene is HMT1, NAIP, eEF1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, MT1 or MPP10; (b) detecting expression of the gene in the presence and absence of the test compound; and (c) comparing expression of the gene in the presence and absence of the test compound, wherein a compound is identified as a compound that inhibits chemoresistant tumor cell growth if expression of the gene in the presence of the test compound is increased relative to expression of the gene in the absence of the test compound. In one embodiment, the compound can inhibit growth of the tumor cell in the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug.

The following examples, including the experiments conducted and results achieved are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 MTT Cell Proliferation Assays

Five ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCA 429, OVCA 433, OVCA 432, HEY and HEYA8) were ranked according to their levels of sensitivity to cis-platin using standard MTT cell proliferation assays.

Cells were grown in Minimal Eagle's Media (MEMα, obtained from Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, Calif.), 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS, heat inactivated), 1% antibiotic/antimycotic mixture (Invitrogen). The MTT stock solution (5 mg/mL; CALBIOCHEM, San Diego, Calif.) was prepared by dissolving dye in HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution), filtering said mixture and stored in 1 ml aliquots at −20° C. One ml of MTT stock was used for every 9 ml of media (total volume is 10 ml). Plates were covered with an opaque covering to protect the cells from light.

Each cell line was treated with 5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μM cis-platin for 4, 8 and 24 hours. MTT assays were performed 96 hours after cis-platin treatment on 96 well plates. Media was removed from the cells and 200 μl of fresh MTT media was added to the cells and also to blank wells to serve as controls. Cells were incubated under normal cell culture conditions for 3-4 hours. Cells were then checked for formation of Formazan crystals, an indication of metabolic activity. Media was removed and 200 μl of 2-propanol were added to wells and control wells. After all the crystals were dissolved evenly, the cells were incubated for 20 minutes at room temperature in the dark. Results were read on a microplate reader at 570 nm.

FIG. 39 (upper panel) shows the MTT assay results for 5 ovarian cancer cell lines used in these studies after 4 hours of exposure to cis-platin at various concentrations. After taking into account the performance of each cell line over the entire range of cis-platin concentrations and treatment times used, the cells were ranked in decreasing level of resistance as OVCA 429<OVCA 433<HEY A8<OVCA 432<HEY (lower panel).

MTT assays involving the exposure of cells to either a siRNA or drug inhibitor for a particular gene were conducted in essentially as described above. The cells were pre-treated with siRNAs for 48 hours prior to treatment with 0, 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μM cis-platin for 24 hours. For combination drug treatment experiments (fumagillin or ALLN) the cells were exposed to a combination treatment of increasing concentrations of the drug being tested and 0, 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μM cis-platin for 24 hours.

Example 2 cDNA Micro Array, Northern Blot, and Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis

The cell lines characterized in Example 1 were used to perform micro-array analysis. Cell pellets were collected from each cell line and RNA was isolated from the cells by dissolving the pellets in 1 ml of TRI-Reagent (obtained from Molecular Research Center, Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio) or Trizol (Invitrogen). The samples were then allowed to sit for 5 minutes. Phase separation was accomplished by adding 100 μl of 1-bromo-3-chloropropane (BCP) to the sample. After shaking for 15 seconds, samples were incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes and then centrifuged for 16 minutes at 13,000 RCF at 4-25° C. The supernatant was removed by pipette and placed into a new microfuge tube. RNA was then precipitated by mixing the supernatant with 500 μl of fresh isopropanol, incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes, and centrifuged for 9 minutes at 13,000 RCF at 4-25° C. The supernatant was then removed from the tube and the pellet was washed by adding 1 ml of 75% ethanol to the tube, vortexing, and then centrifuging for 6 minutes at 13,000 RCF at 4-25° C. The liquid was removed and the pellet was air-dried for about 8 minutes. The pellet was then dissolved in RNase-free water and placed on ice for immediate use or stored at −80° C.

Micro-arrays (obtained from Research Genetics Inc.) containing over 5000 sequence-verified cDNA clones were used to interrogate gene expression in these cells; all micro-array assays were conducted according to the manufacturer's instructions. Each clone was known to be expressed in ovarian tissue. Gene expression in the most resistant cell line (OVCA 429) was used as a standard to which gene expression in the other cell lines was compared. Analysis of the data revealed that OVCA 429 expressed 196 genes at increased levels and 83 genes expressed at decreased levels compared to the more sensitive cell lines.

Genes were selected for further analysis only if they satisfied the following criteria: an at least 2-fold difference in expression compared to the standard as detected on duplicate membranes; differential expression detected in 3 out of 4 cell lines compared to the standard (OVCA 429); and expression levels consistent with each cell line's sensitivity to cis-platin. Overexpressed genes were most highly expressed in OVCA 429 cells and expression gradually tapered off until the lowest level of expression was reached in the least resistant cell line HEY (and vice versa for genes expressed at lower levels in OVCA 429 cells).

Northern blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of the genes that were differentially expressed (higher or lower levels) in the most resistant cell line (OVCA 429) when compared to the other cell lines were used to validate the microarray data and identify genes of interest for further analysis. The identified genes are listed in Table 2, which shows the gene name, a summary of the expression pattern in the cell lines, and the Figure that presents the results of the expression analyses.

TABLE 2 Expression pattern as GenBank GeneCard validated in Accession # cDNA id # Names cell lines FIG. BC015973 756595 S100A10 Increased 1 p11 with CLP11 increased Calpactin 1 resistance to light chain cis-platin 42C BC001410 810612 S100A11 Increased 2 S100C with Calgizzarin increased resistance to cis-platin AF261089 549728 Calpain 2 Increased 6 CANPL2 with mCANP increased resistance to cis-platin BC004974 250654 SPARC Increased 4 Osteonectin with BM-40 increased resistance to cis-platin BC013782 39093 MetAP2 Increased 8 p67eIF2 with MNPEP increased resistance to cis-platin BC015525 809784 KLK6 Increases 17 Zyme with Neurosin increased Protease M resistance to cis-platin AF222689 246120 HMT1 Decreased 18 HMT2 with ANM1 increased HCP1 resistance to cis-platin U31913 814731 ARA9 Increased 19 XAP2 with increased resistance to cis-platin D83735 713886 Calponin 2 Increased 20 with increased resistance to cis-platin U19251 1046522 NAIP Decreased 21 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC005291 306921 eEF1ε Decreased 13 P18 with increased resistance to cis-platin AF015608 897594 RNPS1 Increased 22 with increased resistance to cis-platin U49436 884867 eIF5 Increased 10 Eif5A with increased resistance to cis-platin BC013590 1630998 Eif2Bε Increased 12 with increased resistance to cis-platin M65217 669443 HSF2 Increased 23 HSTF2 with increased resistance to cis-platin AB010427 714196 WDR1 Increased 24 NORI-1 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC001134 321247 Fused-toes Increased 25 (Ft1) with increased resistance to cis-platin BC004880 203003 NM23D Increased 26 nm23-H4 with increased resistance to cis-platin U10439 950367 ADAR1 Increased 27 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC005214 34140 Grancalcin Increased 7 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC009808 882511; NBR1 Increased 28 M17S2 with increased resistance to cis-platin L36870 726147 SAPK/Erk1 Increased 14 JNKK1 with MEK4 increased MKK4 resistance to MAPKK4 cis-platin AB007885 427980 Zinc finger Increased 29 protein-262 with MYM increased resistance to cis-platin D88153 123980 HYA22 Increased 31 with increased resistance to cis-platin AB049635 824568 MRPL4 Increased 30 CGI-28 with increased resistance to cis-platin AF037261 1636620 Vinexin β Increased 32 with increased resistance to cis-platin M59818 809639 G-CSFR Increased 33 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC015710 838636 RAB22A Decreased 36 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC017201 68605 IGFBP-7 Increased 35 MAC25 with FSTL2 increased resistance to cis-platin BC011770 345077 FAST Increased 16 kinase with increased resistance to cis-platin AB057597 845441 TESK2 Increased 15 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC022087 756687 SRB1 Increased 34 CLA1 with CD36L1 increased resistance to cis-platin BC031890 825293 KIAA0082 Increased 37 with increased resistance to cis-platin NM_006312 743230; NCOR2 Decreased 38 NCOR2 with increased resistance to cis-platin BC032338 297392 MT1 Decreased 51 with increased resistance to cis-platin X98494 825214 MPP10 Decreased 52 with increased resistance to cis-platin *GeneCard is a registered trademark of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel and numerical assignments can be changed at any time.

Northern Blot Analysis

In order to confirm expression patterns identified by microarray analysis, Northern blot analysis was performed using the NORTHERNMAX Protocol (Ambion Corp., Austin, Tex.) and DNA probes were labeled using STRIP-EZ DNA labeling kits (Ambion) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Quantitative Real-Time PCR

cDNA was synthesized by mixing together 1 μg total cellular RNA isolated from ovarian cancer cell lines, 1 μl oligo dT, and water to a final volume of 12 μl, incubating this mixture at 70° C. for ten minutes, and then adding to the mixture 5 μl 2× Reaction Mix, 2 μl DTT, and 1 μl of SUPERSCRIPT II Enzyme (Invitrogen). The reaction mixture was then incubated at 42° C. for 60 minutes. cDNA dilutions from 1:4 to 1:256 were prepared. Master mixes were prepared with a final volume of 50 μl/well using the Qiagen QUANTITECT SYBR Green PCR Handbook (Qiagen Corp., Valencia Calif.). For every well of a plate that was used, 25 μl 2× QUANTITECT SYBR Green PCR Master Mix (Qiagen), 0.3 μM of forward primer, 0.3 μM of reverse primer, and RNase free water were added to a final volume of 45 μl.

The master mixes for each gene were thoroughly mixed and appropriate volumes were dispensed into PCR tubes or plates as follows: no template (control)=45 μl master gene mix+5 μl H₂O; buffer blank=25 μl H₂O+25 μl SYBR mix; and test samples=45 μl master gene mix+5 μl cDNA (diluted as above).

Sequence detection was determined using the ABI Prism 7700 (Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif.) sequence detection system or the MJ Research (Waltham, Mass.) Opticon II system as follows: PCR initial activation step was carried out for 15 minutes at 95° C.; samples were denatured for 15 seconds at 94° C., annealed for 30 seconds at 53° C. (55° C. when the Opticon II system was used), and extended for 30 seconds at 72° C. (data was acquired during this step); the PCR reaction was repeated for 50 cycles. A melting curve analysis was prepared by adding on the following steps: 15 seconds at 95° C., 20 seconds at 60° C., and 20 seconds at 95° C.

In addition, RNA was prepared from tissue samples obtained from chemosensitive (i.e. responsive) and chemoresistant (i.e. non-responsive) ovarian cancer patients who had been treated with platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents. RNA was isolated by homogenizing 50-100 mg tissue samples in 1 ml TRI-Reagent or Trizol until the tissues were liquidized. The samples were then allowed to sit for 5 minutes. Phase separation was accomplished by adding 100 μl of BCP to the sample. After shaking for 15 seconds, samples were incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes and then centrifuged for 9 minutes at 13,000×g (relative centrifugal force, RCF) at 4-25° C. The supernatant was removed by pipette and placed into a new microfuge tube. RNA was then precipitated by mixing the supernatant with 500 μl of fresh isopropanol, incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes, and centrifuged for 9 minutes at 13,000 RCF at 4-25° C. The supernatant was then removed from the tube and the pellet was washed by adding 1 ml of 75% ethanol to the tube, vortexing, and then centrifuging for 6 minutes at 13,000 RCF at 4-25° C. The liquid was removed and the pellet was air-dried for about 8 minutes. The pellet was then dissolved in RNase-free water and placed on ice for immediate use or stored at −80° C.

Quantitative Real-Time PCR using primers for the genes shown in Table 3 was performed to detect changes in gene expression between the chemosensitive and chemoresistant patients. Expression of 18S RNA was used to correct the values of the expressed genes. The results are shown in Table 3 below. The results confirm the observations from the experiments conducted with RNA from cell lines.

TABLE 3 Fold Fold Expression in Expression in Gene GenBank Chemosensitive Chemoresistant Fold Name Accession # Patients Patients Difference Vinexin β AF037261 1.4 2.8 2.0 G-CSFR M59818 1.7 2.6 1.5 KLK6 BC015525 0.3 3.3 11.0 SPARC BC004974 3.6 6.0 1.7 HYA22 D88153 1.75 2.4 1.4 MRPL4 AB049635 0.3 0.8 2.7 eIF5 U49436 0.8 1.3 1.6 RAB22A BC015710 0.15 0.075 2.0* MT1 BC032338 0.9 0.6 1.5* MYM AB007885 0.6 1.5 2.5 RNPS1 AF015608 0.7 1.4 2.0 S100A11 BC001410 1.0 2.0 2.0 MetAP2 BC013782 0.175 0.21 1.2 S100A10 BC015973 0.15 0.25 1.7 SAPK L36870 0.40 0.95 2.4 Calpain 2 AF261089 0.12 0.19 1.6 NM23D BC004880 0.70 1.3 1.9 NIAP U19251 4 2 2.0* SRB1 BC022087 0.08 0.13 1.6 WDR1 AB010427 1.5 5 3.3 HMT1 AF222689 0.19 0.05 3.8* eEF1, BC005291 0.65 0.15 4.3* eIF2B, BC013590 0.40 0.75 1.9 ADAR1 U10439 0.65 0.8 1.2 *this difference reflects a decrease in gene expression in the chemoresistant patients

The following primer sequences were used to validate gene expression using Real-Time PCR:

250654 (this gene was initially validated with a specific molecular beacon probe, however, subsequent studies were carried out with SYBR green)

Molecular Beacon Validation:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) Beacon: FAM-CGCGTATGAACTGGGCTTATGTGACGCG-DABCYL (SEQ ID NO: 14) Flanking forward primer: CTGGGCTCTGCCTTAAACAC (SEQ ID NO: 15) Flanking reverse primer: GCTCCCAAAAGTTTGAACCA (SEQ ID NO: 16) Internal forward primer: TTGCCTGAGGCTGTAACTGA (SEQ ID NO: 62) Internal reverse primer: GCTCCCAAAAGTTTGAACCA For SYBR green: (SEQ ID NO: 17) forward: CCA CTT CTT TGC CAC AAA GT (SEQ ID NO: 18) reverse: GAA TTC GGT CAG CTC AGA GT 810612 (this gene was validated with a specific molecular beacon probe) (SEQ ID NO: 19) Beacon: FAM-CGCCTGGGTGGGTTTGAAGGAGGCG-DABCYL (SEQ ID NO: 20) Flanking forward primer: ATCGAGTCCCTGATTGCTGT (SEQ ID NO: 21) Flanking reverse primer: GCCTGCATGAGGTGGTTAGT (SEQ ID NO: 22) Internal forward primer: CTTGCCATGACTCCTTCCTC (SEQ ID NO: 63) Internal reverse primer: GCCTGCATGAGGTGGTTAGT 39093 (SEQ ID NO: 23) forward: GCA GAA GCA CAT CGA CAA GT (SEQ ID NO: 24) reverse: GCC TGC ATT TAA TCC ATT CTC 882511 (SEQ ID NO: 25) forward: TAA CCA CGT CCT GCT GAA GT (SEQ ID NO: 26) reverse: GCT TTA AGA AAG TTC TTA TCA AC 950367 (SEQ ID NO: 27) forward: GCA CAG CGG AGT GGT AAG A (SEQ ID NO: 28) reverse: CAG AGG AGT CAG ACA CAT TG 34140 (SEQ ID NO: 29) forward: GTA TAC TTA CTT CAG TGC TGT T (SEQ ID NO: 30) reverse: CAT TCT TGC TAT AAC GTT TAA CA 726147 (SEQ ID NO: 31) forward: CTC TGT GAC TTC GGC ATC A (SEQ ID NO: 32) reverse: CAG ACA TCA GAG CGG ACA T 427980 (SEQ ID NO: 33) forward: AAG AAC TGG GTT CAG TGG AAA (SEQ ID NO: 34) reverse: GAG AGT GCA TGG TCT TGA GT 123980 (SEQ ID NO: 35) forward: AGC CAC CAG CTA AGT ACC TT (SEQ ID NO: 36) reverse: CAT CGA TTT CAA CCG GAA CAA 824568 (SEQ ID NO: 37) forward: GTG TGT GGA CCT CCA TGT TA (SEQ ID NO: 38) reverse: AGC ACA CCA TTA CAG ACA AGT 1636620 (SEQ ID NO: 39) forward: GGA ACC AGT TTC TGC AGG AA (SEQ ID NO: 40) reverse: CTC CAG CAG CAC CTC AAT G 809639 (SEQ ID NO: 41) forward: ATC CAA GGT TAT GTG GTT TCT T (SEQ ID NO: 42) reverse: CAC CTC CTG GGC TTC TGA A 756687 (SEQ ID NO: 43) forward: GAT CCA TGA AGC TAA TGT ACA A (SEQ ID NO: 44) reverse: ACG GGC AGA AGC CTT CGT T 845441 (SEQ ID NO: 45) forward: CCT GAG GTT CTC CGA GAT G (SEQ ID NO: 46) reverse: TCC AGC CCG AAA TTC TCT GT 68605 (SEQ ID NO: 47) forward: CAA GAG GCG GAA GGG TAA A (SEQ ID NO: 48) reverse 1: CAG CCG CTC GGG TAG GT (SEQ ID NO: 49) reverse 2: CAC TAT GGA AGG ACC TTG CT 838636 (SEQ ID NO: 50) forward: GGA TAC AGG TGT AGG TAA ATC (SEQ ID NO: 51) reverse: TCC CAG ATT AGG AAT TTA TGT A 345077 (SEQ ID NO: 52) forward: CTT CTG GAA CAG GCG AAG A (SEQ ID NO: 53) reverse 1: GCT GGC CCA GAC GAC GAA (SEQ ID NO: 54) reverse 2: GCA GAC ACA CGT GGA TGG T 825214 (SEQ ID NO: 55) forward: GAT GAA GTT AAA TCC TCC TTT G (SEQ ID NO: 56) reverse: CCT CTT CTG TGC TGT CAC TT 297392 (SEQ ID NO: 57) forward: CCT GCA AGA AGA GCT GCT G (SEQ ID NO: 58) reverse: CAC AGC TGT CCT GGC ATC A 897594 (SEQ ID NO 109) forward: AGC ACC AGC ACT GGC TCA TCA A (SEQ ID NO 110) reverse: AGA GCC AGA AGA GCT GCT A 713886 (SEQ ID NO 111) forward: AAC CGA CAA GTG TGA CAA CT′ (SEQ ID NO 112) reverse: TGT GCC TTG CGG GCA GTA 884867 (SEQ ID NO 113) forward: C ACC ACC ACC ACC AAA TGA A (SEQ ID NO 114) reverse: CA TCC ATT CGA CGC CTT TGA 321247 (SEQ ID NO 115) forward: CCA GCA GCA CAG TCA ACA AA (SEQ ID NO 116) reverse: TGG TAG CTT CTG CTT CAC AA 1630998 (SEQ ID NO 117) forward: CCA GAG CTG CAC TCA TTC C (SEQ ID NO 118) reverse: CAC TGT TGG TGA TAA AGC AAT T 756595 (SEQ ID NO 119) forward: GGA TAA AGG CTA CTT AAC AAA G (SEQ ID NO 120) reverse: CCA CTT TGC CAT CTC TAC AC 549728 (SEQ ID NO 121) forward: GAG CCG AGG AGG TTG AAA G (SEQ ID NO 122) reverse: CTC CTC TGG GTC TAT AGT GT 203003 (SEQ ID NO 123) forward: GAC CCT GGT GGC GGT GAA (SEQ ID NO 124) reverse: GGT GCC TGC AGC ATC TTC A 814731 (SEQ ID NO 125) forward: GGA GAG CCC TGG CAC GTA (SEQ ID NO 126) reverse: CCT TCA TCT GCA GGT TCT TG 714196 (SEQ ID NO 127) forward: ACG ACG GAC ACA TTA ATT ACT (SEQ ID NO 128) reverse: TCC ATG CTG CAG CTG ATG A 809784 (SEQ ID NO 128) forward: C CTT CGG CAA AGG GAG AGT (SEQ ID NO 130) reverse: CTG GAT GAG TTC AGA GAG TTT 825293 (SEQ ID NO 131) forward: GCC TCG ACA GGC AGA GAT (SEQ ID NO 132) reverse: CTT GTA GCT GAA GAT GTC AAT 246120 (SEQ ID NO 133) forward: CTC TAT GCC CGG GAC AAG T (SEQ ID NO 134) reverse: AAG ACA TGT CGA AGC CAT ACA′ Summary of Genes Up- or Down-Regulated in Ovarian Cancer Cells that are Resistant to Cis-Platin

Genes Encoding EF-Hand Proteins:

Five genes encoding calcium-activated EF-Hand proteins were identified, namely, S100A10, S100A11, SPARC, Calpain 2 and Grancalcin). Two of the four genes, S100A10 and S100A11 are located adjacent to each other on chromosome 1 at 1q21 (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78; Ridinger et al., 1998, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1448:254-263). This region of chromosome 1 has been reported as one of the hotbeds for chromosomal rearrangements in ovarian cancer (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78). The exact biological functions of S100A10 and S100A11 are unknown. S100A10 and S100A11 are both expressed at higher levels in more resistant ovarian cancer cell lines (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, respectively). FIG. 3 shows that the mRNAs for S100A10 and S100A11 are also elevated in a patient that is more resistant to chemotherapy compared to a more responsive patient.

SPARC (also known as Osteonectin and BM40) is a secreted protein (Lane and Sage, 1994, FASEB J. 8:163-173). SPARC has been shown to be highly expressed in the stroma of neoplastic ovaries (Paley et al., 2000, Gynecologic Oncology 78:336-341) and has been shown to induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells (Yiu et al., 2001, Am. J. Pathol. 159:609-622). However, high levels of SPARC have been detected in melanoma (Ledda et al., 1997, J. Invest. Dermatol. 108:210-214) and colorectal cancer (Porte et al., 1995, Int. J. Cancer 64:70-5), and also have been reported to promote cell migration and invasion in prostate cancer (Thomas et al., 2000, Clin. Cancer Res. 6:1140-9) and glioblastoma (Golembieski et al., 1999, Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 17:463-72). SPARC overexpression also contributes to increased motility and invasion of breast cancer cells (Briggs et al., 2002, Oncogene 21:7077-91). As shown herein, SPARC was found to be expressed at higher levels in the more chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell lines (FIG. 4). SPARC mRNA was also elevated in samples taken from a patient whose tumor had recurred as shown in FIG. 5.

Calpain 2 is a calcium-activated protease. Recently it was reported that an inhibitor of calpain 2 activity induced apoptosis in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as solid tumor cells (Huang and Wang, 2001, TRENDS in Molecular Medicine 7:355). Calpain 2 mRNA levels were increased in more chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell lines (FIG. 6).

Grancalcin is a recently-described Ca²⁺-binding protein that belongs to the penta-EF-Hand subfamily of EF-Hand proteins and translocates to membranes upon Ca²⁺ binding (Lollike et al., 2001, J. Biol. Chem. 276:17762-9). Grancalcin mRNA was found to be elevated in cell lines more resistant to cis-platin compared to cell lines more responsive to treatment with cis-platin (FIG. 7).

Genes Encoding Proteins Involved in Protein Translation and Translational Control:

MetAP2: The expression of Methionine aminopeptidase 2 (also known as eIF-2 associated p67) has never been linked to ovarian cancer. The protein encoded by this gene seems to have two functions. It removes the first methionine from newly synthesized proteins (Li and Chang, 1996, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 227:152-9) and it also associates with eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF-2α; a GTP binding protein) and inhibits its phosphorylation (Wu et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:10796-10801). Using an antibody against the MetAP2, it appears that MetAP2 expression is elevated in the most resistant cell line OVCA 429 and down-regulated in Hey (the cell line most sensitive to cis-platin; see FIG. 8). Furthermore, when MetAP2 mRNA expression was examined in tissue samples obtained from three patients with different levels of resistance to cis-platin-based chemotherapy, MetAP2 appeared to be most elevated in the sample from the most resistant patient (CAP3 in FIG. 9) compared to patients with intermediate (CAP2; FIG. 9) and low (CAP1; FIG. 9) levels of resistance to chemotherapy. A drug, TNP-470, that specifically targets MetAP2 is currently in clinical trials as an angiogenesis inhibitor in several human tumors (Kruger and Figg, 2000, Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 9:1383-96). Furthermore, lowering the cellular levels of MetAP2 using antisense oligonucleotides has been shown to induce apoptosis (Datta and Datta, 1999, Exp. Cell Res. 246:376-83). These observations suggest that this protein could be an important target for therapy in ovarian cancer.

eIF5 is another central protein for translation initiation and protein synthesis that functions as a GTPase-activator protein (Paulin et al., 2001, Current Biol. 11:55-9; Das et al., 2001, J. Bio. Chem. 276:6720-6). Two transcripts were detected and the levels of expression of both were elevated in ovarian cancer cell lines with the highest level of resistance to cis-platin (FIG. 10) and in a more resistant patient (FIG. 11).

The mRNA for eIF2Bε is upregulated in ovarian cancer cell lines showing the highest resistance to cis-platin (FIG. 12). The protein encoded by this gene is the regulatory ε-subunit of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor complex comprised of 5 subunits (Proud, 2001, Prog. Mol. Subcell. Biol. 26:95-114).

eEF1 epsilon mRNA was down-regulated in ovarian cancer cell lines showing the highest resistance level to cis-platin (FIG. 13). eEFs are involved polypeptide assembly (Browne and Proud, 2002, Eur. J. Biochem. 269: 5360-8).

Kinases:

SAPK/Erk Kinase 1 is a dual-specificity kinase that activates JNK1, JNK2 and p38 but not Erk1 or Erk2 (Cuenda, 2000, Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 32:581-7). This gene and its protein have not heretofore been associated with ovarian cancer. mRNA levels for this gene were found to be elevated in more resistant cell lines compared to more sensitive cell lines (FIG. 14).

TESK2: This serine/threonine kinase is located predominantly in the cell nucleus. When inactive, however, it translocates to the cytoplasm. TESK2 specifically phosphorylates cofilin (at Ser-3), a protein that, along with actin-depolymerizing factor plays an essential role in the rapid turnover of actin filaments and actin-based reorganization by stimulating depolymerization and severance of actin filaments (Toshima, 2001, J. Biol. Chem. 276:31449-58). No previous link to ovarian cancer has been reported. TESK2 mRNA is elevated in more resistant cell lines (FIG. 15).

FAST kinase: This is a Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase, which is thought to be involved in apoptosis mediated by Fas (Tian et al., 1995, J. Exp. Med. 182:865-74). FAST kinase mRNA is elevated in more chemoresistant cell lines (FIG. 16).

Others:

KLK6: This is a serine protease also known as Zyme and Neurosin. This gene belongs to the human kallilrein gene family, which also includes better-known molecules such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) already being used as a marker for prostate cancer and is also being investigated as a marker for ovarian cancer (Diamandis, 2000, Clinical Biochem. 33:579-83). Elevated serum levels of KLK6 have been reported in patients with ovarian cancer compared to normal controls (Diamandis, 2000, Clinical Biochem. 33:579-83). Expression levels of this gene were elevated in the more chemoresistant cell lines tested (FIG. 17). It is also worthwhile noting that this gene is located in another area of frequent chromosomal re-arrangements in ovarian cancer (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78).

HMT1 (also known as PRMT1): This gene encodes a protein arginine N-methyltransferase, the expression of two variants of which was found to be down-regulated in breast cancer (Scorlis et al., 2000, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 278:349-59). HMT1 expression was down-regulated in cells that are more resistant to cis-platin (see FIG. 18). It is also interesting to note that HMT1 is located on chromosome 19 at 19q13.3 in the same chromosomal region where the gene encoding KLK6 resides.

ARA9 (also known as Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) and XAP2) is thought to play a role in AHR-mediated signaling (Kazlauskas et al., 2002, J. Biol. Chem. 277:11795-801). mRNA from this gene was elevated in cell lines more resistant to cis-platin (FIG. 19). It is also located on chromosome 11 (at 11q13.3), another area with increased frequency of chromosomal rearrangements associated with ovarian cancer (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78).

Calponin 2 has been studied in myoepithelial carcinomas (Mosunjac et al., 2000, Diagn. Cytophathol. 23:151-5) but not in ovarian cancer. The expression of Calponin 2 was slightly elevated in the more cis-platin resistant cell lines compared to the more sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines (FIG. 20).

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) was found to be slightly down-regulated in cell lines most resistant to cis-platin (FIG. 21). NAIP has never been linked to ovarian cancer (Tamm et al., 2000, Clin. Cancer Res. 6:1796-1803).

RNA binding protein 51 (RNPS1) is a general activator of pre-mRNA splicing and may form a complex with ASAP that is involved in promoting apoptosis and the SART3 tumor rejection antigen (Schwerk et al., 2003, Mol. Cell. Biol. 23:2981-90; Harada et al., 2001, Int. J. Cancer 93:623-8). Its levels were found to be elevated in cell lines resistant to cis-platin (FIG. 22).

Heat Shock Transcription Factor 2 (HSF2) regulates expression of heat shock protein genes (Mathew et al., 1998, Mol. Cell. Biol. 18:5091-8). HSF2 also appears to be able to compete with the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) for binding to its regulatory subunit PR65, and is thought to act as a novel PP2A regulatory protein (Hong et al., 2000, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 272:84-9). mRNA levels for HSF2 were elevated in the more resistant cell lines (FIG. 23).

WDR1: The WD-repeat proteins are found in all eukaryotes and play an important role in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular functions including signal transduction, transcription and proliferation (Li et al., 2000, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 274:117-23). However, the exact function of WDR1 is unknown. The mRNA for this gene was elevated in more resistant cell lines compared to the more sensitive cell lines (FIG. 24).

Ft1: The open reading frame of this gene exhibits similarities to ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and in mice it maps close to the Rb-related p130 gene (Lesche et al., 1997, Mamm. Genome 8:879-83). Cytogenetically, Ft1 maps to chromosome 16 at region 16q12.2, an area repeatedly altered in human cancer. Loss of heterozygosity has been reported in this chromosomal region in ovarian cancer. The levels of Ft1 mRNA were elevated in cell lines that are more resistant to cis-platin (FIG. 25).

NME4 (also known as nm23-h4) is a nucleoside diphosphate kinase that is moderately over-expressed in renal cell carcinoma and strongly over-expressed in colorectal carcinomas (Haver et al., 2001, Anticancer Res. 21:2821-5). NME4 mRNA was elevated in the more resistant cell lines (FIG. 26).

ADAR1: The adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing by adenosine deaminases including ADAR1 results in the creation of alternative splicing sites or alterations of codons and, thus, leads to functional changes in proteins (Wang et al., 2000, Science 290:1765). It is also interesting to note that the ADAR1 gene is located on chromosome 1 at 1q21.1-q21.2, in the same frequently rearranged chromosomal region as S100A10 and S100A11 (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78). ADAR1 mRNA was elevated in cell lines that are more resistant to cis-platin (FIG. 27).

NBR1: The exact molecular function of NBR1 is unknown. (Those with skill in the art will recognize that the usefulness of a gene in the methods of this invention is not dependent on a detailed or exact notion of the functional properties of a gene.) Mapping studies have revealed that the NBR1 gene lies head-to-head with the BRCA1 gene (Whitehouse et al., 2002, Eur. J. Biochem. 269:538-45). NBR1 has no reported association with ovarian cancer. NBR1 mRNA was elevated in the most cis-platin resistant cell line OVCA 429 (FIG. 28).

Zinc finger protein 262/MYM: A member of a family of genes encoding proteins containing MYM zinc binding motif (Smedley et al., 1999, Genomics 60:244-7). This protein has never been associated with ovarian cancer; however, the mRNA for this gene was elevated in the most chemoresistant cell line compared to the other cell lines tested (FIG. 29).

MRPL4: This gene and its protein have never been associated with ovarian cancer. However, the gene is located on chromosome 19 at 19p13.2, a region frequently rearranged in ovarian cancer (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78). MRPL4 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines (FIG. 30).

HYA22: This gene and its protein have never been associated with ovarian cancer. However, the gene is located on chromosome 3 at 3p21.3, a region associated with chromosomal rearrangements in ovarian cancer (Pejovic, 1995, Ann. Med. 27:73-78; Protopopov et al., 2003, Cancer Res. 63:404-12; Senchenko et al., 2003, Oncogene 22:2984-92). HYA22 mRNA was elevated in cell lines more resistant to cis-platin compared to the more sensitive cell lines (FIG. 31).

Vinexin β: Also known as SCAM-1, this gene encodes an adapter protein belonging to a family of proteins also including Vinexin β, CAP/Ponsin and ArgBP2 (Kioka et al., 2002, Cell Structure and Function 27:1-7). Vinexin was not known in the prior art to be linked to ovarian cancer. Vinexin β mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines (FIG. 32).

G-CSFR: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) is almost universally expressed in primary ovarian cancer. The expression of its ligand, however, G-CSF was found in the same cells in only half of the cases studied, suggesting the presence of an autocrine system (Savarese et al., 2001, Cancer Letters 162:105-15). In another third of the cases studied G-CSF was found exclusively in the stroma, suggesting a paracrine system may be present, in which mesenchymal cells may provide the ligand to cancerous cells expressing the receptor (Savarese et al., 2001, Cancer Letters 162:105-15). A preliminary, retrospective evaluation suggested that overall survival is worse in patients expressing the paracrine loop alone as compared to patients whose ovarian cancer expressed an autocrine axis (Savarese et al., 2001, Cancer Letters 162:105-15). G-CSF and its receptor can also be co-expressed in normal ovaries and some benign ovarian neoplasms. G-CSFR mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines (FIG. 33).

SRB1: Also known as CLA-1, this gene encodes a receptor that recognizes both negatively charged liposomes and apoptotic cells. Tumor cells have been reported to participate in the uptake and removal of apoptotic cells and bodies (Fukasawa et al., 1996, Exp. Cell Res. 222:246-50). The biological significance of these observations is poorly understood. There has been no prior disclosure of links between the expression of SRB1 and ovarian cancer. SRB1 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines (FIG. 34).

IGFBP-7: A more recently identified member of the IGF binding proteins, this protein binds IGF-I and IGF-II with a relatively low affinity (Oh, 1998, Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 47:283-93). IGFBP-7 mRNA was elevated in chemoresistant cell lines (FIG. 35).

RAB22A belongs to the RAB subfamily of Ras proteins (Kauppi et al., 2002, J. Cell Science 115:899-911). RAB22A mRNA was decreased in chemoresistant cell lines and was elevated in cell lines more responsive to cis-platin (FIG. 36).

KIAA0082: KIAA0082 is a full-length gene for which there is no published information. mRNA expression for this gene was elevated in cell lines resistant to cisplatin (FIG. 37).

NCOR2: This is a co-repressor protein closely related to SMRT with a specific interaction domain for the thyroid hormone receptor (Jepsen and Rosenfeld, 2002, J. Cell Science 115:689-98). mRNA expression for this gene was reduced in chemoresistant cell lines compared to cell lines sensitive to cis-platin (FIG. 38).

MT1: The precise physiological role of Metallothionein 1 L (MT1) is unknown, however, previous studies have reported that MT levels are elevated in cis-platin resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells (Andrews and Howell, 1990, Cancer Cells 2:35-43) and cells transfected with the MT gene became resistant to cis-platin (Nakano et al., 2003, Anticancer Res. 23:299-304). MTs are thought to function in sequestering cis-platin in the cytoplasm, therefore increasing the cells ability to resist the drug (Nakano et al., 2003, Anticancer Res. 23:299-304). Paradoxically, the level of MT1 mRNA appeared to be highly elevated in cells most sensitive to cis-platin (Hey) (FIG. 51).

MPP10: M-phase phosphoprotein (MPP10) is a mostly cytoplasmic protein but can be secreted and is a component of the human U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein. The majority of this protein co-localizes with fibrillarin (Baserga et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser. 36:64-7), and is involved in rRNA processing. No association has been reported for this gene or its product with ovarian cancer. MPP10 expression levels increased with increased sensitivity to cis-platin (FIG. 52).

Example 3 In Vitro Testing of SPARC as Therapeutic Target

SPARC was expressed at the highest levels in the most cis-platin resistant cell line (OVCA 429) compared to the other cell lines tested (FIG. 4). This protein is known in the art to be a calcium-binding glycoprotein that modulates adhesion and can play an important role in tissue remodeling and angiogenesis promoting tumor progression and invasiveness (Ledda et al., 1997, J. Invest. Dermatol. 108:210-214).

SPARC expression was tested in human Ascites fluid samples obtained from an individual before cyto-reductive surgery and then 9 months following surgery when the patient's tumor had recurred (FIG. 5; the two transcripts observed for SPARC arise due to differential polyadenylation; Ledda et al., 1997, J. Invest. Dermatol. 108:210-214). SPARC expression levels after surgery were greatly increased and correlated with a poor outcome for this patient. This observation was also consistent with findings made by other groups studying other forms of solid cancers (Golembieski et al., 1999, Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 17:463-72; Briggs et al., 2002, Oncogene 21:7077-91; Huang and Wang, 2001, TRENDS in Molecular Medicine 7:355; Lollike et al., 2001, J. Biol. Chem. 276:17762-9), indicating that increased SPARC expression can be predictive of chemotherapeutic treatment success and disease progression in other types of solid cancer in addition to ovarian cancer.

In order to test whether lowering SPARC protein expression levels in OVCA 429, the most resistant ovarian cancer cell line, would reduce its ability to resist cis-platin, three siRNAs were designed directed against different regions of the SPARC message. The SPARC siRNAs used were:

(SEQ ID NO: 1) #1 Target Sequence: AATCC TGT CCA GGT GGA AGT A; (SEQ ID NO: 2) #2 Target Sequence: AAGCT CCA CCT GGA CTA CAT C; and (SEQ ID NO: 3) #3 Target Sequence: AATGA CAA GTA CAT CGC CCT G.

The siRNA experiments described herein were conducted using the siPORT Lipid protocol (Ambion). Cells were plated 24 hours before transfection in MEM∝ media containing 10% FBS, so that cells were 30-70% confluent at the time the experiment was performed. The siPORT and siRNA complexes were prepared using media without FBS or antibiotics. For siPORT, 4 microliters per well for six well plates and 0.5 microliter per well for 96 well plates were added to media, mixed by vortexing, and incubated at room temperature for 25 minutes. For siRNA, 1-25 nM (12.5 nM is normally used) concentration of siRNA was used, diluted in media. The siPORT was added to the siRNA mixture, mixed gently, and incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes. After the cells were washed with serum free media, cells were added to the plates (where 96 well plates were used, cells were plated at a density of 4.5×10⁴; where 6 well plates were used, cells were plated at a density of 1-5×10⁵). The siPORT/siRNA complex was added to each plate/well and the plates were rocked gently to distribute complex over cell surface. After incubating for 4 hours under normal cell culture conditions, additional media containing 10% FBS was added to the cells. After 48 hours, total RNA was extracted.

Cells were transfected with the siRNA constructs following instruction from the supplier (Ambion). For 6-well plates, 12.5 nM siRNA/well was used for transfection. The OD₂₆₀ readings of siRNA were performed in duplicate at a 1:100 dilution. The readings were averaged, then multiplied by the dilution factor and then by multiplied by 40 (the OD₂₆₀of 1 is equal to 40 μg/ml of RNA) to get the final concentration of siRNA in μg/ml. The number was divided by 14 (the number of μg of RNA in 1 nmole of an average 21 mer dsRNA) to get final siRNA concentration in μM, and then converted so that the concentration was presented in nM.

The results of these studies are shown in FIG. 48. All three siRNAs decreased the level of SPARC mRNA in these cells. Cells treated with siPORT only or with the sense strand of siRNA #2 alone did not show any significant reduction in SPARC mRNA expression. A combination treatment, which included all three siRNAs together, did have some effect, however (FIG. 48).

The ability of OVCA 429 cells to resist cis-platin in the presence of the SPARC siRNAs was also investigated. The cells were treated with siPORT alone or transfected with either the sense strand of siRNA #2 alone or the complete siRNA #2. The cells were allowed to recover for 48 hours after transfection and then treated with increasing concentrations of cis-platin or the corresponding concentrations of DMSO as a control. The cells were exposed to the drug for 24 hours after which the drug was removed and the cells were allowed to recover for an additional 72 hours. The effect of this treatment on cell viability was then assessed by an MTT assay. The results are shown in FIG. 49; FIG. 50 shows these results after quantitation of the effects on the cells. The data suggested that treating the cells with the complete siRNA #2 prior to exposure to cis-platin reduced their resistance level by half (IC₅₀˜25-50 μM for controls treated with siPORT only or sense strand only to an IC₅₀of ˜12.5 μM after treating with siRNA #2).

The results of these experiments indicated that SPARC is a therapeutic target and marker for ovarian cancer.

Example 4 In Vitro Testing of MetAP2/P67 as Therapeutic Target

MetAP-2/p67 is a bifunctional protein with both functions being important for cell growth (Li and Chang, 1996, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 227:152-9; Wu et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:10796-10801). In one role, the protein binds to eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) and inhibits its phosphorylation, and in the other role its C-terminus domain has enzymatic activity catalyzing hydrolysis of N-terminal methionines from a number of cellular proteins (Wu et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:10796-10801). Phosphorylation of eIF-2 alters its translational repertoire allowing different messages to be translated at different phosphorylation states. Additionally, the methionine aminopeptidase activity is important generally for protein function and failure to remove N-terminal methionines often produces inactive proteins (Li and Chang, 1996, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 227:152-9).

Fumagillin, from Aspergillus fumigatus, and its synthetic analogue TNP-470, covalently binds to and inhibits the methionine aminopeptidase activity of MetAP-2 but not that of the closely related MetAP-1 (Griffith et al., 2998, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:15183-8). It is also important to note that treatment of several different cell types with fumagillin resulted in increased expression of MetAP-2 (Wang et al., 2000, J. Cell. Biochem. 77:465-73); it is thought that the cell adapts to a loss of function of MetAP-2 by increasing its level of expression.

The experiments described herein suggested that OVCA 429 expressed approximately 7 times more MetAP-2 than the cell line most sensitive to cis-platin, Hey (FIG. 8). Northern blot analysis also confirmed that the levels of MetAP-2 expression are also elevated in patients that are clinically more resistant to cis-platin-based chemotherapy. FIG. 9 shows that the level of MetAP-2 mRNA was approximately 3 fold higher in the most resistant patient (CAP3) than in the least resistant patient (CAP1). A patient with an intermediate level of resistance to cis-platin-based chemotherapy also exhibited an intermediate level of MetAP-2 mRNA.

MTT-based assays were conducted in which OVCA 429 cells were treated with fumagillin alone, cis-platin alone and with combinations of different concentrations of cis-platin and fumagillin for 4, 8 and 24 hours. The results are shown in FIGS. 40, 41 and 42. FIG. 40 (top panel) shows the effects of increasing concentration of fumagillin on OVCA 429 cell survival. Some cell death was observed but up to 80% of the cells survived even at very high concentrations of fumagillin. Treating the cells with cis-platin alone (bottom panel) resulted in an IC₅₀of approximately 100 μM cis-platin. The presence of 0.1 μg/ml fumagillin in addition to increasing levels of cis-platin reduced the IC₅₀ to approximately 50 μM. However, treating the cells with cis-platin in the presence of 10 μg/ml fumagillin resulted in enhanced cell survival with an IC₅₀of approximately 200 μM.

Regardless of the length of incubation time, there was an enhancement of the effect of cis-platin in the presence of 0.1 μg/ml fumagillin but the opposite effect when the cells were treated with cis-platin in the presence of 10 μg/ml fumagillin (FIGS. 41 and 42). These observations suggested that at low levels of fumagillin, a favorable balance is achieved and the drug acts synergistically with cis-platin leading to the death of more cells.

Three siRNAs were designed to target different regions of the MetAP-2 message (FIG. 43), to determine the effect of inhibiting MetAP-2 expression. The MetAp-2 siRNAs were:

(SEQ ID NO: 4) #1 Target Sequence: AAAGA TCA GCA TTG GAA GAT A (SEQ ID NO: 5) #2 Target Sequence: AAGCA CAT CGA CAA GTT AGA A (SEQ ID NO: 6) #3 Target Sequence: AAACA GTG CCG ATT GTG AAA G

FIG. 44 shows the effect of siRNA #1 on the levels of MetAP-2 expression in OVCA 429. Control cells were transfected with the sense strand of the same siRNA alone or treated with the transfection agent (siPort lipid). Transfection of the cells with siRNA #1 reduced the levels of MetAP-2 expression by half, even though the transfection efficiency was not 100%. Little effect was observed on the levels of expression of GAPDH in those cells, indicating that gene expression was not generally affected by this treatment. Furthermore, treating the cells with siRNAs #2 and #3 did not result in a reduction in MetAP-2 expression.

The ability of OVCA 429 to resist cis-platin when the expression of MetAP-2 was blocked was tested by treating OVCA 429 cells with siRNA #1, the sense strand #1 alone, or siPort lipid alone. After 48 hours of incubation with the siRNA the cells were exposed to varying concentrations of cis-platin or the corresponding concentrations of its solvent, DMSO, for 24 hours. The results of this experiment were quantified and are shown in FIG. 45. The results indicated that the presence of siRNA #1 reduced the IC₅₀ of OVCA 429 from 25 μM to approximately 3 μM. FIG. 46 shows a photograph of the 96-well plates after performing the MTT assay.

Taken together the results indicated that MetAP-2 is a useful target for therapeutic intervention in ovarian cancer.

Example 5 In Vitro Testing of Calpain 2 and S100A10 as Therapeutic Targets and Reduction of S100A11 Expression in OVCA 429 Cells 549728 (Calpain 2)

Three siRNAs were designed to target different regions of the Calpain 2 message using methods described above. The Calpain 2 siRNAs were:

#1 AA GGC ATA CGC CAA GAT CAA C; (SEQ ID NO: 7) #2 AA ACT TCT TCC TGA CGA ATC G; (SEQ ID NO: 8) and #3 AA ACG CTA TTC AAG ATA TTT A. (SEQ ID NO: 9)

Each siRNA was introduced into OVCA 429 cells as described above. FIG. 53 shows the results of the knockdown experiments in the OVCA 429 cells using these sequences. Sequences #1 and #3 knocked down the gene expression levels by about 50% using the protocol described above. In addition, OVCA 429 cells comprising siRNA #3 were treated with various concentrations of cis-platin. Usually, the IC₅₀ of OVCA 429 cells is around 25 μM cis-platin after a 24 hour exposure to the drug. As shown in FIG. 54, Calpain 2 siRNA #3 reduced the IC₅₀ to 3.12 μM, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the cells to cis-platin by several fold. Also, OVCA 429 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of Calpain inhibitor I (ALLN) in the presence or absence of cis-platin. As shown in FIG. 55, the ALLN reduced the IC₅₀of these cells in the presence of cis-platin to 12.5 μM. Thus, the Calpain 2 siRNA #3 had a greater effect than ALLN on the sensitivity of the OVCA 429 cells to cis-platin.

756595 (S100A10)

Three siRNAs were generated against the S100A10 message:

#1 AA ATG GAA CAC GCC ATG GAA A; (SEQ ID NO: 59) #2 AA ATT CGC TGG GGA TAA AGG C; (SEQ ID NO: 60) and #3 AA TAA TGA AGG ACC TGG ACC A. (SEQ ID NO: 61)

As shown in FIG. 56, the siRNA #3 reduced the IC₅₀of the OVCA 429 cells from 25 μM to 6.25 μM cis-platin, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the cells to cis-platin.

810612 (S100A11)

Three siRNAs were designed to target different regions of the S100A11 message using methods described above. The S100A11 siRNAs were:

#1 AA AGG ATG GTT ATA ACT ACA C; (SEQ ID NO: 10) #2 AA GAA ACT GGA CAC CAA CAG T; (SEQ ID NO: 11) and #3 AA TCT GAT TGG TGG CCT AGC T (SEQ ID NO: 12)

Each siRNA was introduced into OVCA 429 cells as described above. FIG. 57 shows that siRNAs #1 and 2 knocked down gene expression levels in the OVCA 429 cells by 50% and 25% respectively, using the methods described above.

Example 6 Expression of MetAp-2, SPARC, Calpain-2, S100A10 and S100A11 in Colon Cancer

Commercially available matched sets of colon cDNAs were obtained from BD Biosciences, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.) that were isolated from five individuals obtained from non-tumor tissue and also from adjacent tumor tissue.

Quantitative real-time PCR experiments were conducted to determine the expression levels of MetAP-2, SPARC, S100A10, S100A11 and Calpain-2 in the normal and tumor colon tissues. FIG. 58 shows the expression levels of MetAP-2 in 5 pairs of matched colon cDNAs. The data indicates that two of the patients had highly elevated expression levels in tumor cDNA compared to their matched non-tumor cDNA (patients B and C; FIG. 58). One other patient showed only slightly elevated expression in the tumor cDNA compared to its matched non-tumor cDNA (patient A; FIG. 58). The level of expression in OVCA 429 was used as a reference. Previous reports have shown that hepatic metastasis of human colon cancer can be prevented by the MetAP-2 inhibitor TNP-470 (Tanaka et al., 1995, Cancer Res. 55:836-9).

FIG. 59 shows that expression levels of SPARC mRNA were elevated in 4 out of 5 matched tumor samples compared to their matched non-tumor cDNAs. FIG. 60 shows that expression levels of S100A11 mRNA were elevated in all of the matched tumor samples compared to their matched non-tumor cDNAs. FIG. 61 shows that expression levels of S100A10 mRNA were elevated in 4 out of 5 matched tumor samples compared to their matched non-tumor cDNAs. FIG. 62 shows that expression levels of Calpain-2 mRNA were elevated in all of the matched tumor samples compared to their matched non-tumor cDNAs.

Taken together these observations suggest that MetAP-2, as well as SPARC, S100A11, S100A10, and Calpain-2, are therapeutic targets for colon cancer patients.

Example 7 Sandwich ELISA for Detecting Secreted Proteins in Serum

The wells of 96-well microtiter plates are coated with antibodies raised against a gene product of interest. Aliquots of the purified recombinant target gene product are diluted serially and are used to generate a standard curve for quantitation. Aliquots of patient sera are then added to each well. The plate is covered to minimize evaporation and is incubated at 4° C. for a few hours to overnight. The antigen is removed and the wells are washed 3 times with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). 300 μl of blocking solution (3% w/v fish gel solution in PBS) is added to each well and incubated for 2 hours at room temperature. Blocking solution is removed and the wells are washed 3 times with PBS. The appropriate antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase is then added to each well (100 μl per well) and incubated at room temperature for 1-2 hours. The antibody is then removed and the wells are washed 3 times with NP-40 solution (0.05% v/v NP-40 in PBS). Binding is detected by adding ABTS (Rockland Immunochemicals) to each well (at 100 μl per well) for 30 minutes at room temperature and reading absorbance at 405 nm using a microplate reader. If alkaline phosphate conjugates are used instead of peroxidase, pNPP (Rockland Immunochemicals) is used instead of ABTS to detect binding.

Once the limit of detection is determined from standard curves generated using purified proteins, a number of subjects who do not have cancer and a number of patients who have been diagnosed as having cancer or benign conditions are tested to determine an expected range of concentrations for the particular gene product of interest. The expected range for patients with cancer defines the limit that can be used to identify or distinguish a patient with ovarian cancer or a patient with recurring disease from a responding patient or a healthy subject without cancer.

Example 8 siRNA-Mediated “Knockdown” of Gene Expression

sIRNAs specific for several genes were tested for their ability to reduce (or “knockdown”) their respective genes in ovarian cancer cell lines following the protocols as described above. In each case several siRNAs were tested against a control (non-specific) siRNA that was GC-content matched (from Dharmacon, Inc, Lafayette, Colo.) to the test siRNAs. In some cases a negative control (no treatment) was also included. The level of expression knockdown varied with different siRNAs. The specific genes and the siRNA sequences for each specific gene are described below:

-   -   1. Two siRNAs were generated SAPK/Erk1 (L36870):

L36870 (726147) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 64): AAA TGG GAC GAG GAG CTT ATG (starts at bp 320 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 65): AAG CGC ATC ACG ACA AGG ATA (starts at bp 831 in the coding sequence)

-   -   Both sequences were successful in reducing expression of SAPK,         with sequence #2 giving a 60% reduction in the level of mRNA.     -   2. Three siRNAs were generated for eEF1ε (BC005291):

BC005291 (306921) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 66): AAC AGG ATT GAC TAC TAT AGC (starts at bp 123 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 67): AAT ACA GGG TCA CTC AAG TAG (starts at bp 227 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 68): AAA TAT CTT AAT GTG TCT CGC (starts at bp 412 in the coding sequence)

-   -   Target sequences #s 1 and 2 were successful in reducing the         expression of eEF1ε, with sequence #1 giving a 65% reduction in         the level of mRNA.     -   3. Three siRNAs were generated for G-CSFR (M59818):

M59818 (809639) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 69): AAG TGT GAG CTG CGC CAC AAG (starts at bp 793 in the coding sequence). Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 70): AAG AGC CCC CTT ACC CAC TAC (starts at bp 1666 in the coding sequence). Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 71): AAC AGG AAG AAT CCC CTC TGG (starts at bp 1957 in the coding sequence).

-   -   Target sequences #s 1 and 3 reduced the level of expression of         G-CSFR, with sequence #1 53% reduction in the level of mRNA.     -   4. Three siRNAs were generated for ARA9/XAP2 (U31913):

U31913 (814731) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 72): AAA CGT GTG ATA CAG GAA GGC (starts at bp 48 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 73): AAC AAG TAC GAC GAC AAC GTC (starts at bp 775 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 74): AAC GTC AAG GCC TAC TTC AAG (starts at bp 790 in the coding sequence)

-   -   Target sequences #s 2 and 3 resulted in reduced expression of         ARA9, with sequence #3 giving a 50% reduction in the level of         mRNA.     -   5. Three siRNAs were generated for RNPS1 (AF015608):         -   AF015608 (897594)

Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 75): AAT ATT CAT ACG GCA TGG ACT (starts at bp 327 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 76): AAC CTA AAA TAG AAG ACC CCT (starts at bp 680 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 77): AAA AGA TGC TGA CTC AGA AAA (starts at bp 752 in the coding sequence)

-   -   All three sequences were successful in reducing the expression         of RNPS1, with sequence #1 giving a 35% reduction in the level         of mRNA.     -   6. Three siRNAs were generated for Fused toes (BC001134):

BC001134 (321247) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 78): AAC CTA AAA TAG AAG ACC CCT (starts at bp 680 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 79): AAG ACC CCT ATG CAA TTA GCT (starts at bp 692 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 80): AAA AAG CCT GAA GAA CAG CAC (starts at bp 769 in the coding sequence)

-   -   All three sequences were successful in reducing the expression         of Fused toes, with sequence #2 giving a 43% reduction in the         level of mRNA.     -   7. Three siRNAs were generated for Grancalcin (BC005214):

BC005214 (34140) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 81): AAA TGG GAT TTA ATG CAT TCA (starts at bp 323 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 82): AAC TTC ATG ACT GTT GAT CAA (starts at bp 379 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 83): AAC ATC ATG AGT TGC GTC AAG (starts at bp 419 in the coding sequence)

-   -   All three sequences were successful in reducing the expression         of Grancalcin, with sequence #2 giving an 83% reduction in the         level of mRNA.     -   8. Three siRNAs were generated for SRB1/CLA1/CD3611 (BCO22087):

BC022087 (756687) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 84): AAG CAG CAG GTC CTT AAG AAC (starts at bp 109 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 85): AAT CTC ATC AAC AAG TAC TTT (starts at bp 565 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 86): AAT TCA GAA CGT CAG CAC CTG (starts at bp 981 in the coding sequence)

-   -   Target sequences #s 1 and 3 were successful in reducing the         expression of SRB1, with sequence #1 giving a 60% reduction in         the level of mRNA.     -   9. Three siRNAs were generated for KIAA0082 (BCO31890):

BC031890 (825293) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 87): AAG AGG AGA ACT GAC CCA GAA (starts at bp 4 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 88): AAA TGA GCG ATT GGA TGG TGG (starts at bp 509 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 89): AAG ATC ATC AAG GGC TCC AGT (starts at bp 2164 in the coding sequence)

-   -   Sequence #1 gave a 65% reduction in the level of mRNA. Sequence         #2 and #3 had no effect on mRNA level.     -   10. Three siRNAs were generated for e-IF2Bε (BC013590):

BC013590 (1630998) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 90): AAT GTG GTT CGA ATA ATT ACA (starts at bp 352 in coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 91): AAA CTC GAG ATG ACT TTG TGC (starts at bp 800 in coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 92): AAT CAA CAG CTG CAG AGG TTC (starts at bp 2098 in coding sequence)

-   -   Sequence #1 gave a 57% reduction in the level of mRNA, sequence         #2 gave a 54% reduction, and sequence #3 gave a 43% reduction in         the level of mRNA.     -   11. Three siRNAs were generated for Calponin 2 (D83735):

D83735 (713886) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 93): AAG GAT GGA ACT ATC TTA TGC (starts at bp 163 in coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 94): AAT TTC GAC GAT GCC ACC ATG (starts at bp 457 in coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 95): AAC CGA CAA GTG TGA CAA CTC (starts at bp 708 in coding sequence)

-   -   All three sequences reduced the level of gene expression, with         sequence #3 giving a 75% reduction in the level of mRNA.     -   12. Three siRNAs were generated for HYA22 (D88153):

D88153 (123980) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 96): AAA GAA ATG TGT GGT CAT TGA (starts at bp 507 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 97): AAA TCG ATG GAA CTA TAC ATC (starts at bp 596 in coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 98): AAC TAT ACA TCA GGT GTA TGT (starts at bp 606 in coding sequence)

-   -   All three sequences reduced the level of gene expression, with         sequence #3 giving a 60% reduction in the level of mRNA.     -   13. Three siRNAs were generated for CA 125 (BC009808):

BC009808 (CA 125) Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 99): AAT GGT TTC ACC CAT CAG AGC (starts at bp 235 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 100): AAG GGC TCA GCT ACA TTC AAC (starts at bp 2203 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 101): AAT ACA ACG TCC AGC AAC AGT (starts at bp 3380 in the coding sequence)

Sequence #3 gave a 50% reduction in the level of mRNA.

-   -   14. Two siRNAs were generated for HMT1 (AF222689) and tested in         Hey cells:

AF222689 Target Sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 102): AAC TCC ATG TTT CAT AAAC CGG (starts at bp 202 in the coding sequence) Target Sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 103): AAC GTG TAT GGC TTC GAC ATG (starts at bp 619 in the coding sequence)

-   -   Both sequences were successful in reducing the expression of         HMT1 mRNA with sequence #1 giving approximately 70% reduction         and sequence #2 just over a 60% reduction.     -   15. Three siRNAs were generated for MPP10 (X98494) and tested in         Hey cells:

X98494 Target sequence #1 (SEQ ID NO: 104): AAG TTC CAG AAA TCT GAA ATA (starts at bp 357 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #2 (SEQ ID NO: 105): AAG AAA ATC CAG AAC ATG TAG (starts at bp 1043 in the coding sequence) Target sequence #3 (SEQ ID NO: 106): AAA ACA GTA GCT TCG GAG AAG starts at bp 1414 in the coding sequence)

-   -   All three sequences gave a reduction in mRNA expression with         sequence #1 giving almost 90% reduction, and sequences #2 and 3         with approximately 30% and 40% reduction respectively.     -   16. Two siRNAs were generated for IGFBP-7 (BC017201) and tested         in OVCA 429.

BC017201 (SEQ ID NO. 107) Target sequence #1: AAG GTA AAA AGG GGT CAC TAT (starts at bp 583 in the coding sequence). (SEQ ID NO. 108) Target sequence #2: AAA GGG GTC ACT ATG GAG TTC (starts at bp 590 in the coding sequence).

-   -   Only sequence #1 gave a reduction in mRNA levels that was         approximately 60% compared to the control.     -   17. One siRNA was generated for NM23-D (BC004880) and tested in         OVCA 429 cells:

BC004880 (203003) (SEQ ID NO 135) Target sequence #3 AAT GTC ATC CAC GCC AGC GAC (starting bp 442 from 1^(st) ATG)

Only target sequence #3 reduced mRNA levels, by approximately 50% compared to control.

-   -   18. Three siRNAs were generated for WDR1 (AB010427) and tested         in OVCA 429 cells:

AB010427 (SEQ ID NO 136) Target sequence #1: AAT GGA AAG TGC GTC ATC CTA (starting bp 106 from 1^(st) ATG) (SEQ ID NO 137) Target sequence #2 AAG TTC ACA ATT GGC GAC CAC (starting bp 544 from 1^(st) ATG) (SEQ ID NO 138) Target sequence #3: AAG TGC TTC AGC ATC GAC AAC (starting bp 1309 from 1^(st) ATG)

All target sequences reduced mRNA levels, #1 by approximately 85%, #2 by approximately 75% and #3 by approximately 70% compared to control.

-   -   19. One siRNA was generated for Vinexin 13 (AF037261) and tested         in OVCA 429 cells:

AF037261 (SEQ ID NO 139) Target sequence #2: AAG AGT TAC CTA GAA GCA CCT

Target sequences #1 and #3 did not reduce mRNA levels compared with control while #2 reduced mRNA by approximately 50% compared to control.

-   -   20. Three siRNAs were generated for KLK6 (BC015525) and tested         in OVCA 429 cells:

BC015525 (SEQ ID NO 140) Target sequence #1: AAA AAA CCG AAT CTT CAG GTC (SEQ ID NO 141) Target sequence #2: AAA CTC TCT GAA CTC ATC CAG (SEQ ID NO 142) Target sequence #3: AAC TGG ATC CAA AAA ACC ATT

Target sequences #1 did not reduce mRNA levels compared with control while #2 reduced mRNA by approximately 42% and #3 by approximately 55% compared to control.

-   -   21. One siRNA was generated for eIF5 (U49436) and tested in OVCA         429 cell:

U49436 (SEQ ID NO 143) Target sequence #1 mRNA Target Sequence: AAT GAC CGT TAC ATT GTC AAT

Target sequences #2 and #3 did not reduce mRNA levels compared with control while #1 reduced mRNA by approximately 59% compared to control.

-   -   22. One siRNA was generated for zinc finger protein 262/MYM         (AB007885) and tested in OVCA 429 cells:

AB007885 (SEQ ID NO 144) Target sequence #3: AAA ATA TGG GAA CCT ACA ATA (starting bp 3058 from 1^(st) ATG)

Target sequences #1 and #2 did not reduce mRNA levels compared with control while #3 reduced mRNA by approximately 45% compared to control.

Example 9 In Vitro Functional Testing of Validated Genes

The ability of specific siRNAs to enhance the sensitivity of OVCA 429 and OVCAR-3 cells to cis-platin was examined substantially as disclosed above in Examples 3-5 above. In each case cis-platin sensitivity was enhanced in the presence of the specific siRNAs but not with the non-specific (control) siRNA or the negative control (no treatment). The data indicate that the genes tested may be functionally involved in the development of cis-platin resistance in ovarian cancer cell lines. The results are summarized in Table 4.

TABLE 4 in vitro cis-platin sensitivity tests Tested in 429: increased Tested in OVCAR-3: increased Accession siRNA OVCA 429 sensitivity to OVCAR-3 sensitivity to Number Names sequence cells cis-platin cells cis-platin M59818 G-CSFR #1 yes yes U31913 ARA9 #3 yes yes Yes yes XAP 2 AF015608 RNPS1 #1 yes yes BC001134 Fused toes #2 yes yes Yes yes BC005214 Grancalcin #2 yes yes Yes yes BC022087 SRB1 #1 yes yes Yes yes BC031890 KIAA0082 #1 yes yes Yes yes AB007885 Zinc-finger #3 yes yes Yes yes protein BC004880 NM23D #3 yes yes Yes yes AB010427 WDR1 #1 no Yes yes U49436 eIF5 #1 yes yes Yes yes eIF5A D83735 Calponin 2 #3 yes yes Yes yes BC015525 KLK6 #3 yes yes Yes yes AF037261 Vinexin B #2 no Yes yes BC017201 IGFBP-7 #1 yes yes Yes yes D88153 HYA22 #3 yes marginal Yes yes BC013590 eIF2Bε #1 yes yes Yes yes L36870 SAPK/Erk1 #2 yes yes Yes yes

Example 10 In Vivo Experimentation

The following protocol was developed for examining tumor growth using OVCAR-3 cells and nude mice: OVCAR-3 cells (15 million/injection) were inoculated under upper arm region of nude mice. Visible lumps appeared after 25 days. The tumors were measurable at about 35 days after inoculation and animals were then either treated with cis-platin at 4 μg/kg body weight administered by IP injection 3 times a week for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week with no treatment or treated with saline solution alone as control. FIG. 63 shows the volume of the tumor as a function of body weight of the two mice. The data demonstrated that the control animal carrying the tumor continued to grow the tumor in the absence of any chemotherapy (mouse #1). The animal that received the cis-platin treatment, in contrast, exhibited a stabilization of the tumor size (mouse #2). A photograph of the tumors before and after cis-platin treatment is also shown.

This protocol is repeated using stable cell lines expressing siRNAs against genes identified herein (MetAP-2, SPARC, S100A10, S100A11 and Calpain-2). Stable OVCAR-3 cell lines expressing either Calpain 2 or S100A11 siRNAs, as well as a control OVCAR-3 cell line expressing stable siRNA against green fluorescent protein (GFP, a cell growth-irrelevant marker protein), have been developed; expression of Calpain 2 and S100A11 and the effects of siRNA expression as measured by real time quantitative PCR are shown in FIG. 64. Fifteen mice are split into three groups of five. One group is treated as control, is injected with OVCAR-3 cells without siRNA expression, the second group is injected with siRNA-expressing OVCAR-3 cells and the third group is injected with GFP-specific siRNA expressing OVCAR-3 cells. After measurable tumors become apparent, the control group receives a saline injection, while the second and third groups receives the standard cis-platin treatment. Tumor growth is observed as a function of body weight as described above.

In another experiment, fifteen mice split into groups of five ads inoculated with unadulterated (i.e., non-recombinant) OVCAR-3 cells and tumors permitted to grow. One group is treated as control. After measurable tumors become apparent, the control group receives a saline injection, the second group receives the standard cis-platin treatment as described above, and the third group receives the standard cis-platin treatment combined with TNP-470 (a clinically-recognized fumagillin derivative). Tumor growth is observed as a function of body weight as described above.

The information disclosed in the Examples can be summarized as follows:

TABLE 5 Passed in vitro Tested in functional validation ovarian cancer in OVCA 429, patient tissue OVCAR-3 (or both) Accession # Names sample panel or Hey* BC015973 S100A10 yes Yes p11 CLP11 Calpactin 1 light chain 42C BC001410 S100A11 yes Yes S100C Calgizzarin AF261089 Calpain 2 yes Yes CANPL2 MCANP BC004974 SPARC yes Yes Osteonectin BM-40 BC013782 MetAP2 yes Yes p67eIF2 MNPEP BC015525 KLK6 yes Yes Zyme Neurosin Protease M AF222689 HMT1 yes No HMT2 ANM1 HCP1 U31913 ARA9 no Yes XAP2 D83735 Calponin 2 no Yes U19251 NAIP yes No BC005291 eEF1ε yes No p18 AF015608 RNPS1 yes Yes U49436 eIF5 yes Yes eIF5A BC013590 eIF2Bε yes Yes M65217 HSF2 no No HSTF2 AB010427 WDR1 yes Yes NORI-1 BC001134 Fused toes no Yes BC004880 NM23D yes Yes mn23-H4 U10439 ADAR1 yes No BC005214 Grancalcin no Yes BC009808 NBR1 no No L36870 SAPK/Erk1 yes Yes JNKK1 MEK4 MKK4 MAPKK4 AB007885 Zinc finger yes Yes protein-262 MYM D88153 HYA22 yes Yes AB049635 MRPL4 yes No CGI-28 AF037261 Vinexin β yes Yes M59818 G-CSFR yes Yes BC015710 RAB22A yes No BC017201 IGFBP-7 no Yes MAC25 FSTL2 BC011770 FAST no No kinase AB057597 TESK2 no No BC022087 SRB1 yes Yes CLA1 CD36L1 BC031890 KIAA0082 no Yes NM_006312 NCOR2 no No BC032338 MT1 yes No X98494 MPP10 no No *All genes (KLK6, ARA9, Calponin 2, RNPS1, eIF5, eIF2Bε, WDR1, Fused toes, NM23D, Grancalcin, SAPK/Erk1, zinc finger protein-262 MYM, HYA22, Vinexin β, G-CSFR, IGFBP-7, SRB1, or KIAA0082) where expression is elevated on drug-resistant tumor cells were tested in OVCAR-3 or OVCA 429 cells, and all genes (MPP10, HMT1, NAIP, Eef1ε, RAB22A, NCOR2, or MT1) where expression is reduced in the most resistant tumor cells were tested in Hey cells.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure emphasizes certain specific embodiments of the invention and that all modifications or alternatives equivalent thereto are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A method of assessing whether an ovarian cancer patient's tumor is resistant to cisplatin comprising the steps of: (a) measuring a gene expression level of SPARC in: (i) an ovarian cancer tumor sample taken from the patient, and (ii) a cisplatin responsive ovarian tumor sample; (b) comparing the expression level of said gene in the ovarian cancer tumor sample taken from the patient and the cisplatin responsive ovarian tumor sample; and (c) determining that the ovarian cancer patient's tumor is resistant to cisplatin when the expression level of said gene in the ovarian cancer tumor sample taken from the patient is at least 1.2-fold greater than the expression level of said gene in the cisplatin responsive ovarian tumor sample.
 2. A method for assessing disease progression of ovarian cancer in a patient, comprising the steps of: (a) measuring a gene expression level of SPARC in an ovarian cancer tumor sample taken from the patient; (b) repeating step (a) using an ovarian cancer tumor sample obtained from the patient at a subsequent time; (c) comparing the expression level of said at least one gene from step (a) with the gene expression level from step (b); and (d) determining that the cancer has progressed when the expression level measured in step (b) is not less than the expression level measured in step (a).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said measuring is by nucleic acid hybridization, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), or antibody-binding.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said measuring is by nucleic acid hybridization, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), or antibody-binding.
 5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said expression levels are measured by RT-PCR, and wherein said expression levels are measured relative to expression levels of a control gene.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the control gene is 18S RNA gene.
 7. A method of assessing treatment efficacy in an ovarian cancer patient comprising the steps of: (a) assaying an ovarian cancer tumor sample from the patient for an expression level of SPARC; (b) repeating step (a) at a subsequent time during treatment of the subject for ovarian cancer; (c) comparing the expression level of said gene from step (a) with the gene expression level from step (b); and (d) determining that the treatment is efficacious when expression level of said gene in step (b) is less than the expression level in step (a). 